John foster dulles on the fall of dien bien phu 1954 guerre. One 2018 book refers to aerial supply that the french needed to fly in 36000. Based on his observations in vietnam, and extensive interviews with participants in the french indochina war 19461954, falls many publications include two seminal critiques of french counterinsurgency strategy. The vietnamese viewpoint of dien bien phu supplies some much needed balance to the accounts of the battle written by western soldiers and historians. Battle of dien bien phu battle of dien bien phu part of the first indochina war french union paratroops dropping from an united states air forcelent flying boxcar. But it would also be where a great european power fell to an underestimated insurgent army and lost control of a crucial colony. Its defense of fiftyseven days and nights will go down in history as one of the most heroic of all time. Jan 14, 2017 the vietminh won the battle of dien bien phu due to their advantages in topography and terrain, logistics, artillery and antiaircraft capabilities and political will. The price of freedom article the united states army army. He was on the ground with french troops beginning in 1953. May 07, 2015 on this day in 1954, the french garrison at dein bien phu was overrun. The fall of dien bien phu was a disaster not just for france but also for the united states who, by 1954, were underwriting 80% of french expenditures in indochina. The time and date were carefully chosenthe hour allowed the artillery to fire in daylight, and the date was chosen because it was a new moon, allowing a nighttime infantry attack. Hell in a very small place is the definitive account of the battle at dien bien phu a debacle that it has at one time or another been an assigned text at the u.
Falls hell in a very small place is undeniably a classic of military history. Bien phu was a symbol throughout the world that small guerrilla forces like the viet minh could turn away even the largest of imperial powers. New perspectives on dien bien phu france, the final deterrent was its eightyear long dirty war sale guerre that ended with the unequivocal victory of vietnamese nationalist forces at dien bien phu in 1954. No american is better qualified to tell the tale of dien bien phu and its significance than howard simpson. Bernard fall wrote that in comparison with other world battles, dien bien phu could hardly qualify as a major battle, let alone a decisive one. What i recall most vividly about dien bien phu was the french reaction afterward. March may 7, 1954 while fought years before american troops would be. After french forces occupied the dien bien phu valley in late 1953, viet minh commander vo nguyen. Build up story commemorating the fall of dien bien phu, made up from french library material. Battle of dien bien phu french foreign legion information. According to the mutual defense assistance act, the united states provided the french with material aid during the battle aircraft supplied by the uss saipan, weapons. The debacle before the disaster the american scholar.
Bien phu, and westmoreland offered assurances that the base would not fall. Dien bien phu and the french defeat in vietnam is an outstanding example of the nonfiction writers art. On may 7, 1954, after 55 days of fierce fighting, the major battle between french troops and ho chi minhs viet minh soldiers was terminated. The siege of that french fortress was an epic of colonial warfare and one of the most significant battles of the 20 th century through the early 1950s, the french had been battling to hold their indochina colonies against a powerful, communistled insurgency. Sound and the fury the 1954 geneva conference on vietnam. For more information on battle of dien bien phu, visit. Valley of death is the untold story of the 1954 battle that. Fall had an unusual career as an academic who conducted field research by accompanying first french forces and later americans into combat in. Like gettysburg, stalingrad, midway, and tet, the battle at dien bi. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
Covering the operation from beginning until the defeat. In may 1954 vietnamese nationalists won one of the great military victories of the. A guerrilla force of viet minh destroyed a technologically superior french army, convincing the viet minh that. In 1954, french forces in french indochina sought to cut the viet minhs supply lines to laos. The battle of dien bien phuended may 7,1954, after a 56day siege that. May 8, 2015 posted in dien bien phu, history, indochina. Feb 14, 1984 the united states army drew up plans for a nuclear attack on the vietnamese forces besieging the french at dien bien phu in 1954, according to an official army history. The battle of dien bien phu 1953 1954, stresses the author, was one of the modern eras most decisive confrontations.
A brief history of the battle of dien bien phu section 117. The siege occurred while the 1954 geneva conference was ironing out agreements between the major powers, including the future of indochina. Four times wounded during the battle, he was deprived of his military medal due to his active participation in the generals putsch in algeria in 1961. But coming as it did so soon after an inconclusive conflict in korea, there was not much political will in the congress for yet another foreign entanglement. The national security council included the theory in a 1952 report on indochina, and in april 1954, during the decisive battle between viet minh and french forces at dien bien phu, president. Dien bien phu travel northwest vietnam, vietnam lonely planet. In fact, it was rather slowgoing at times, but not because it was dull or poorlywritten. Last moments of the battle of dien bien phu, 1954, as depicted by north vietnamese artist huy toan beatrice was the first fire base to fall, then gabrielle and annemarie. The battle of dien bien phu was one of the most influential battles in military history. The french strategy of seeking to establish a fortified base across the viet minhs route to and from laos provoked an awesome struggle that lasted from november 1953 to may 1954.
First a torch by richard baker vietnam veterans of america. Viet minh soldiers recreate their assault on the french airfield during the battle of dien bien phu in northern indochina now. For those who are not familiar with the 1954 battle of dien bien phu, the french army unit. The battle of dien bien phu, 1954 a picture from the past. On july 21st, 1954, the results of the geneva conference on. This major confrontation occurred at dien bien phu, a large heartshaped valley located in northwestern part of vietnam, near the border with laos. At the end of 1953, the french settled in dien bien phu, a city in northwestern vietnam.
The french war to defeat the vietminh was going badly early in 1954. Bernard fall on the battle of dien bien phu parallel narratives. In the late 1940s, the french struggled to control its colonies in indochina vietnam, cambodia, and laos. May 07, 2014 the last weeks of the battle of dien bien phu were atrociously gruelling. The battle of dien bien phu began in 1953, when general navarre fortified the valley of dien bien phu, which lay in an isolated corner of northwestern vietnam. A guerrilla force of viet minh destroyed a technologically superior french army, convincing the viet minh that similar tactics might prevail in battle with the u. Street without joy 1961 and hell in a very small place. A german legionnaire participating in the battle of dien bien phu in 1954, as a commando leader with 10th company, 3e rei at isabelle. The french objective had been to support the soldiers at dien bien phu, deep in the hills of northwestern vietnam to cut off viet minh supply lines into. When viet minh forces overran dien bien phu on may 7, 1954, it was, according to fall, the end of french military influence in asia. The fall of dien bien phu 59 years gone by and still forgotten dien bien phu today it was an epic battle in a tragic war and most people neither know or care what happened in the valley where a small border post named dien bien phu became synonymous with forgotten sacrifice. During this time dien bien phu, surrounded by 2000ft hills and thus difficult to resupply by air as the french had intended, became the scene of fearful contests. The battle of dien bien phu ranks with agincourt, waterloo, and gettysburg as one of the great military engagements of history.
As an alternative, the kindle ebook is available now and can be read on any device with the. It marked the end of the first indochina war, the partition of vietnam into communist and noncommunist zones, and the beginning of american involvement that led to our own vietnam war. The attack at dien bien phu began on march, 1954, with a strong viet minh attack, and continued through may. Apr 22, 2010 john foster dulles on the fall of dien bien phu a few hours ago, dien bien phu has fallen. Bernard fall on the battle of dien bien phu parallel. The battle of dien bien phu was a climactic confrontation of the first indochina war that took. The siege occurred while the 1954 geneva conference was ironing out agreements between the. On may 7 th in hanoi a small remembrance was held to mark the fall of dien bien phu and honor the victor, 101 year old general vo nguyen giap at his home. Dien bien phu travel northwest vietnam, vietnam lonely. Dien bien phu dbp plays a star role in vietnams modern history. The garrison at dien bien phu was under persistent and heavy.
Today marks the 60 th anniversary of the surrender of the french fortress outpost at dien bien phu in vietnam. Dien bien phu sealed the fate of the french in indochina and forced paris to abandon the pursuit of colonial interests. But they concluded that france in 1954 had lacked the resources. In 1954, the viet minh army, under general vo nguyen giap, moved against dien bien phu and in march encircled it with 40,000 communist troops and heavy artillery. Apr 01, 2005 the battle of dien bien phu ranks with agincourt, waterloo, and gettysburg as one of the great military engagements of history. War, the savage eightyear conflict, ending in 1954 after the fall of dien bien phu, in which. Americans working for cat played a crucial role in the last days of this battle. Information agency correspondent visited the isolated fre.
The battle occurred between march and may 1954 and culminated in a. Feb 02, 2012 the battle was dubbed hell in a very small place by the french author bernard b. The battle of dien bien phu, 1954 a picture from the. The ground turned to mud once the monsoon began, and men clung to craters and ditches in conditions reminiscent of the battle of verdun in 1916. July 16, 2009 on may 6, 1954, legendary pilot james b. The battle of dien bien phu was fought from march to may 7, 1954, and was the decisive engagement of the first indochina war 19461954, the precursor to the vietnam war. Apr 24, 2014 the fall of dien bien phu and the rise of u. The origins of dien bien phu go back to the mid to late 19th century when france invaded, colonized and ultimately annexed vietnam, cambodia and laos into what would become. Fall ebook product description the 1954 battle of dien bien phu ranks with stalingrad and tet for what it ended imperial ambitions, what it foretold american involvement, and what it symbolized.
News of dien bien phus fall was announced in france several hours after the. It was one of the few remembrances held anywhere marking that battle which was one of the watersheds of the 20 th century. Stanley karnow, pulitzerprizewinning author of vietnam. Dien bien phu was a remote valley on the border of laos along a simple rural trade route. A half a world away in houston texas a small group of french veterans, expatriates and historians. The united states army drew up plans for a nuclear attack on the vietnamese forces besieging the french at dien bien phu in 1954, according to an official army history. The battle of dien bien phu 19531954, stresses the author, was one of the modern eras most decisive confrontations. This large book reminds this reader of great american novels of sweep and scope by. The vietminh won the battle of dien bien phu due to their advantages in topography and terrain, logistics, artillery and antiaircraft capabilities and political will. Involvement in vietnam dien bien phu was a major battle of the first indochina war in which the french fought against the viet minh communists.
The siege of dien bien phu fall was a respected journalist who predicted the failure of french efforts to recolonize indochina after world war ii. Battle of dien bien phu, the decisive engagement in the first indochina war 194654. The viet minh victory in this battle effectively ended the eightyearold war. Dec 15, 2017 based on his observations in vietnam, and extensive interviews with participants in the french indochina war 19461954, falls many publications include two seminal critiques of french counterinsurgency strategy. On january 9th 1954 the french air force reconnaissance spotted enemy. It consisted of a struggle between french and viet minh vietnamese communist and nationalist forces for control of a small mountain outpost on the vietnamese border near laos. It was a bloody and gruesome battle with trench warfare like ww1. The time and date were carefully chosenthe hour allowed the artillery to fire in daylight, and the date was chosen because it was a.
The 1954 battle of dien bien phu ranks with stalingrad and tet for what it. The book shows the human spirit at its best on both sides. From the fall of the republic of vietnam in april 1975 until the early 1990s, an estimated 800,000. Like gettysburg, stalingrad, midway, and tet, the battle at dien bien phua strategic attack launched by france against the vietnamese in 1954 after eight long years of.
The town sits in the heartshaped muong thanh valley, surrounded by heavily. The battle of dien bien phu was the decisive engagement in the first indochina war 194654. This book is ed to the australian national university. Both his parents were killed by the nazis in world war ii.
The battle of dien bien phu was the climatic battle of the first indochina war 1946 1954 between french military forces and those of the communist viet minh. A poignant, angry, articulate book newsweek mr falls book is a dramatic treatment of a. It was in the surrounding countryside here, on 7 may 1954, that the french colonial forces were defeated by the viet minh in a decisive battle, and the days of their indochina empire became numbered. May 08, 2015 61st anniversary of the fall of dien bien phu may 8, 2015 posted in dien bien phu, history, indochina on may 7, 1954, after 55 days of fierce fighting, the major battle between french troops and ho chi minhs viet minh soldiers was terminated. Voir plus didees sur le theme indochine, guerre et vietnam. The fall of dien bien phu marks the end of one war and the beginning of another. The battle of dien bien phu is seen as the decisive battle of the first indochina war between french troops and the viet minh league for the independence of vietnam, a nationalist, prosoviet union movement of ho chi minh.
On may 7, 1954, where did a french force fall to the vietminh. In february 1954, following the french occupation of di. John foster dulles on the fall of dien bien phu a few hours ago, dien bien phu has fallen. The 1954 battle of dien bien phu ranks with stalingrad and tet for what it ended imperial ambitions, what it foretold american involvement, and what it symbolized. Much worse, navarre was up against a government in paris adrift and soon to fall. The french planned to lure the viet minh to defeat in this valley. An aircraft belonging to civil air transport, a cia proprietary airline, flown by mcgovern was shot down by communist antiaircraft fire. Hoping to fight the viet minh, the french built up their garrison. Dien bien phu and the french defeat in vietnam cassell. Dien bien phu north vietnam received military weapons and other support from the soviet union and. Reviewed in the united kingdom on november 1, 2015. John foster dulles on the fall of dien bien phu 1954.
Les echos dune bataille19542004, coauthored with serge tigni. This large book reminds this reader of great american novels of sweep and scope by the likes of john dos passos and james jones. While the french amassed around 15,000 troops at dien bien phu, they were. The fall of dien bien phu may 7th 1954 french prisoners on may 7 th in hanoi a small remembrance was held to mark the fall of dien bien phu and honor the victor, 101 year old general vo nguyen giap at his home. The battle was dubbed hell in a very small place by the french author bernard b. Pierre asselin, the democratic republic of vietnam and the 1954. Valley of death is the untold story of the 1954 battle that, in six weeks, changed the course of history. The battle of dien bien phu began in 1953, when general navarre fortified the valley of dien bien phu, which lay in. Bernard fall wrote a compelling yet sober book hell in a very small place. The base was wellfortified and defended by crack troops, but it could only be reached by air. Mcgovern and his flight officer, wallace wally buford, were flying supplies to french forces at dien bien phu in northern indochina.
Although the fall of dien bien phu occurred more than half a century ago, the battle. Despite financial assistance from the united states, nationalist uprisings against french colonial rule began to take their toll. Bien phu marked the end of the first indochinese war and left the french decimated and embarrassed. On 7 may 1954, after a 56day siege, the french army surrendered. Dien bien phu newspaper archives we found 59,346 articles about dien bien phu in decades. Dien bien phu has become decolonisations 14th of july 20.