During WW2 Japan
took control of the
Vietnam economy
After the defeat of Japan,
the Vietminh was formed
(led by HoChi Minh) to fight
against the French
French rule
collapsed in 1954,
after their defeat
at Dien Bien Phu
At the Geneva conference of 1954, Vietnam was
split at te 17th parallel - The North was
Communist and the south Anti-Communist
The US supported the south in an
effort to stop the spread of
communism (the Domino Effect)
Economic and Military
aid was provided; but
the S Vietnam Gov. was
unpopuar
By 1964 the USA
was commited to
protecting the
south; including
the Vietcong and
Vietminh
Before WW2 Vietnam
was part of the French
Empire
Vietminh
A resistance movement formed by
Ho Chi Minh in 1941 to fight against
French and Japanese control. By 1945
it had become communist and had
taken control of N Vietnam
Vietcong
The National Front for the Liberation of S Vietnam
set up in 1960to fight for communism in S Vietnam.
Called the Vietcong by the Americans, often
abbreviated to VC
Guerrilla Warfare
Methodolgy
The aim is to avoid a pitched Battle
Used by the Vietcong, as they knew it would
be extremely difficult to defeat America
Attack US Troops in small numbers and
then disappear
Depended on support of locals - as
they provided food and shelter
Long term aim to lower morale
and wear down US Troops
Tactics
Mainly recruited men and
women from South; some
from North as well
Lived and worked in
village communities
Code of Conduct
1 - Be Polite
2 - Be Fair
3 - Return anything borrowed
4 - Do not damage crops
5 - Do not flirt with women
Persuade villagers to join them by
targeting unpopular officials, such
as tax collectors, and kidnap and
murder them
Got into Us camps by
doing simple tasks, i.e.
washing and cleaning
Fighting
They were trained
soldiers that
would ambush US
Troops or s
Vietnam soldiers,
and wold kil or
capture the men.
If the enemy were
captured they
would be tortured
and killed.
Would set booby
traps or plant
bombs on enemy
patrol routes
The 'hit & run' tactics made
it difficult for the US to know
where they were
They weren't
completely safe in
the villages so they
built extensive
tunnel systems to
hide in.
Had weapon and ammunition stores, kitchens, sleeping
quarters and hospitals
US claimed that it showed the success of US bombing campaigns
However it shows the organisation and determination of the Vietcong
The Vietcong
needed
supplies for
N Vietnam,
so thousands
of routes
were
developed,
and were
often
bombed by
the US
To avoid
bombing the
supplies went
through other
countries -
Cambodia and
Laos - on the Ho
Chi Minh Trail
It was 600 miles longs,
and 50 miles wide in
places
America's response to Guerrilla Tactics
Response A
America invested heavily in South Vietnam, improving conditions.
In farming
they built
drainage
ditches, to
improve crop
growth
Communications
were improved by
building canals,
roads and railways