-
French soldiers
Over 35,000 French soldiers arrive in South Vietnam to restore French rule. This allowed France to succeed in expelling the Viet Minh from Saigon but angered Vietnam immensely and resulted in the inflammation of the civil war. -
Vietnamese International Independence Day
Began hours after Japan’s surrender in WWII; Vietnamese communist leader Ho Chi Minh declares the independence of Vietnam from France. Vietnam became the Independent Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Ho declares himself President and pursues American recognition but is repeatedly ignored by President Harry Truman. This is important because Ho Chi Minh goes on to lead Vietnam into a communist state which challenges the sovereignty of South Vietnam, the US, France and Australia. -
French Invasion
In South Vietnam, 1400 French soldiers released by the British from former Japanese internment camps enter Saigon and go on a deadly rampage, attacking Viet Minh and killing innocent civilians including children, aided by French civilians who joined the rampage. An estimated 20,000 French civilians live in Saigon(1). This was due to colonial disputes over Vietnamese territory. -
Vietnam’s first large-scale attack
In Hanoi, 30,000 Viet Minh launch their first large-scale attack against the French. Thus begins an eight year struggle known as the First Indochina War. "The resistance will be long and arduous, but our cause is just and we will surely triumph," declares Viet Minh military commander Vo Nguyen Giap. "If these [people] want a fight, they'll get it," French military commander Gen. Etrienne Valluy states. (1) -
US provisions
The United States commences provisional involvement in the Vietnam War as President Harry S. Truman authorizes $15 million in military aid to the French government to fight the North Vietnamese Communists. American military advisors accompanied the flow of US tanks, planes, artillery and other supplies to Vietnam. Over the next four years, the U.S. will spend $3 Billion on the French war and by 1954 will provide 80 percent of all war supplies used by the French. -
SEATO treaty
The treaty consists of the United States, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan formed the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, or SEATO. The purpose of the whole treaty was to prevent the spread of Communism. This event was very significant because it was a fundamental reason to Australia’s involvement to the War because of their alliance with the United States. -
The Geneva Conference
The Geneva conference was held in Geneva, Switzerland with among several states that worked collectively to settle outstanding issues resulting from the Korean War and discuss a solution that could possibly restore peace in Indochina. The conference marked a turning point in the US’s involvement in the Vietnam War. The major focus was on settling the dispute between Vietnamese Communist leader Ho Chi Minh and the French, who were intent on continuing colonial control over Vietnam. -
North Vietnam's power increasing
By now, French soldiers have begun to run out of fresh water and supplies, which resulted in 10,000 French soldiers surrendering at Dien Bien Phu. An estimated 8,000 Vietnamese and 1500 French have died and in addition, the French survivors are marched for up to 60 days in prison camps 500 miles away where nearly half die during the march or in captivity. This is significant as North Vietnam is beginning to develop intense power and a dangerous sense of patriarchy. -
Settlement of the Geneva Conference
This day marked the time when the Geneva Agreements were signed- requesting that the French would withdraw their troops from northern Vietnam and Vietnam would be divided at the 17th parallel, into north and south Vietnam. Video- http://study.com/academy/lesson/geneva-accords-definition-overview.html -
New president of South Vietnam
Ngo Dinh Diem serves as the nation’s first president. Diem was viewed by U.S. officials as the best hope for a leader for an independent, democratic South Vietnam. Diem called a referendum, supported by the US and he received 98.2% of the votes. Although there were doubts about how democratic Diem would be as a leader, the US committed itself to supporting a new government and leader in South Vietnam -
Beginning of the Vietnam War
-
Australia’s first troops
The Australian Ministry for Defense, Reginald Townley announces the intention to send 30 army advisors to South Vietnam. This was initially stating Australia would send its first troops into South Vietnam on the basis of the AENZUS treaty. This was very significant in regards to the Vietnam War as it marked Australia’s first involvement. -
Formation of the National Liberation Front
North Vietnamese announce the formation of the National Liberation Front, which is a replacement of the previous solders, the Viet Minh. It was to branch out from the successfully liberated Vietnam from French colonial rule. -
Australian arrival
Team leader of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam arrived in South Vietnam which signaled the beginning of Australia’s involvement in the War. It was also very controversial due to the pin-ball method of selecting soldiers into war in Australia at the time, meaning not all soldiers were voluntary and Australian citizens had to part from there loved ones which contributed to the anti-war movement. -
Big Minh overthrown
President Big Minh overthrew president of South Vietnam and became the republic’s last president for a dew days before North Vietnamese troops stormed his palace in Saigon. This was significant because it signified political instability in South Vietnam and gave the north troops the ability to take advantage of this instability and storm the South Vietnamese government. -
Australia doubled involvement
As a consequence of political instability in South Vietnam, Australia agreed to the US to double their Australian Army Training Team Vietnam AATTV to 80 advisers. This contributed furthermore to Australia’s involvement in the war. Australia felt it their responsibility to follow the US’ conduct to double their forces as Australia borders closely to the Asia-Pacific and had a strong fear of the Domino effect. -
US first involvement
This marks the first US combat troops to arrive in Vietnam. 35000 men from the army arrived, majority of them trained in the airborne field. The involvement of the US caused controversy worldwide and resulted in approximately 2,000 Moscow students, led by the Vietnamese and Chinese, to storm the US embassy. Britain and Australia still remained supporters of the US action. -
Tet Offensive
Approximately 70,000 Viet Cong forces launched the Tet offensive-a series of coordinated attacks on more then 100 cities and towns in South Vietnam. The attack was to denounce the US’ action in the war and scale back its support of the Saigon regime. The attacks were fierce and although the US and South Vietnam were just able to hold off the Communist attacks, the news coverage and media revealed the offensive which shocked the public and resulted in the birth of the anti-war movement. -
Tet Offensive continued
Although North Vietnam suffered a high causality toll of 5,000 soldiers-mostly killed by American air and artillery strikes- the attacks marked a significant turning point in the war which was the slow and painful American withdrawal from the region. This led to President Johnson to doubt the US’ involvement on the war with antiwar sentiment pressures on the home front. -
Impact of Tet offensive
US President began to limit the bombing of North Vietnam to the area below the 20th parallel which spared 90% of Communist territory. In addition, he began calling for negotiations to end the war and at the same time, announced he will not be running for reelection that November. Consequently, North Vietnam gained power in this moment of doubt. -
Bombing of Communist bases in Cambodia
US President Nixon orders Operation Menu, which was the secret bombings of Communist bases in Cambodia. This marked the beginning of a four year long carpet bombing campaign in the skies of Cambodia which ruined the countryside and caused dramatic socio-political upheaval. The bombings only became public knowledge in 1973; this was due to the antiwar stance on the home front. -
Continued Bombing of Communist bases in Cambodia
2.7 million tons of bombs were dropped on Cambodia, which resulted in roughly 30% of the state’s population becoming internally displaced. As many as 500,000 people died as a direct result of the bombing but estimates are as high as hundreds of thousands of deaths due to the effects of displacement, disease or starvation during this period. -
US troops withdrawn
President Nixon announces the beginning of ‘Vietnamisation’, which led to 25,000 US troops to be withdrawn by the end of August. This signified America’s withdrawal from the war. Vietnamisation was Nixon’s policy to enable South Vietnam to take a greater responsibility for the war, while at the same time supporting the government in Saigon in its fight against the northern communists. By December 1969, Nixon announced another further 60,000 men to leave South Vietnam. -
Signing of the Paris Agreement
The United States, South Vietnam, Viet Cong, and North Vietnam formally signed “An Agreement Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam” in Paris. The settlement included a cease-fire throughout Vietnam. The US and North Vietnam established a deal that the US would withdraw all soldiers and dismantle naval bases in the first 60 days in return that North Vietnam would release all US and other prisoners of war. This event was very significant as it marked the conclusion of the war. -
Last US troops
The last US troops left North Vietnam and officially commenced the implementation of ‘Vietnamisation’ and the end of Western influence and imposition in the war. -
End of Vietnam War
Capital of South Vietnam, Saigon falls to communist forces, ending the Vietnam War. -
Vietnam is unified as a Communist state
Having unified North and South politically, the north Vietnamese still had to integrate them socially and economically. The policy markers were extremely confronted with the South’s resistance to communist transformation, as well as traditional differences arising from cultural and historical differences between North and South.
