War Against the French

History Behind The war

- In 1883 France gains control of Vietnam, becoming a French colony 5 years later in 1887

- While in power the French take control of Vietnam's farmlands and natural resources

- The French instill European lifestyles into the lives of Vietnamese, including European schooling

- Almost sixty years later, Japan takes control over Vietnam (1940)

- 1941: Communsist leader Ho Chi Minh organizes groups to fight for Vietnam's independence 

- 1946: France tries regaining control of Vietnam, and succeeds in defeating Japan 

    - Ho Chi Minh leads an independence movement against the French, called the Vietnminh

    -This is the beginning of what is known as the First Indochina War

 

 

 

French and Viet Minh

- The First Indochina War was a struggle between the French and the Viet Nimh for control of Vietnam 

- Once the French had regained contol, The Viet Minh took their oppertunity to rightfully claim Vietnam as their country

- By late 1946, the French had 50,000 troops in Vietnam, and had also gained back control of Saigon; the largest city in South Vietnam

- November 1946, French naval vessels were released into the North, in a Port city known as Haiphong 

    -The Naval vessels killed a large number of civilians 

    - In retalliation, the Viet Minh by attacking French positions in Haiphong and Hanoi

    - However, these attacks were dispsuted by French artillery and Naval guns

    - The two sides now officially were formed, and by mid- December, the war had officially begun

 

 

 

Fighting Strategies

- Because the French was far more powerful and well-supplied than the Vietnamese, the Viet Minh had to find their own way to fight against and defeat the French 

- Although they were stronger with weapons, the Viet Minh outnumbered the French in manpower

- The Viet Minh had the advantage of fighting in their own land; a homeland advantage

- The French was unfammililar with fighitng in a jungle, and were therefore unable to use it to their advantage as the Viet Minh could

- Another disadvantage for the French was they were sometimes unable to decifer the difference between a soldier and a civilian

    - Women, children, men, and all different civilians voluntarily fought in the jungles of Vietnam 

    - The Viet Nimh easily recruited local fighters 

- The Viet Minh was able to defeat the French using Guerrilla Warfare 

    - Guerrilla Warfare is a form of warfare use military tactics, using their home land advantage

    - Some of these tactics include:

    - Sabotage, ambush, hit-andd-run-tactics