the siege of dien bien phu cpt william louie. outline references geography background action summary...
TRANSCRIPT
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The Siege of Dien Bien Phu
CPT William Louie
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Outline
• References
• Geography
• Background
• Action
• Summary
• Questions
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References
• Vietnam: Decisive Battles by John Pimlott, Barnes & Nobles Books, New York, 1999
• The Siege of Dien Bien Phu by Bernard B. Fall, De Capo Press, New York, 1966
• http://www.globalsecurity.org
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Location
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Physical Geography
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Political Background
• French: – Lost “Indochine” colony to Japanese in WWII. Wanted
to re-establish colonial power against Vietnam nationalist wishes.
– Fighting for about 7 years at start of this operation. Received American support, but no troops.
• Viet Minh: – Since the ’40s, the Viet Minh were fighting the French,
the Japanese, and then the French for independence.
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Military Background
• Objective:– Strategically: French govt. wanted to minimize
casualties while seeking an honorable way out of war.– Operationally: Airbase at Dien Bien Phu will:
• Cover Laos, • Establish guerilla re-supply point,• Trap Viet Minh in set-piece battle.
• Recent Events:– French fight Viet Minh in airbases at end of LOC.
Interpret enemy withdrawal as success.
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Military Background
• Objectives:– Strategically: Force French to negotiate to Ho Chi
Minh’s terms with a spectacular victory.
– Operationally: Defeat French garrison at Dien Bien Phu.
• Recent Events:– Learned lessons to defeat French airbase concept.
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French Combatants
• Commanders:– All French forces in Indochine: GEN Henri Navarre
– DBP forces: COL Christian de Castries
• Total forces at beginning of siege: 10,814• Airborne reinforcements: 4,291• Ethnicity:
1412
2969
2607
247
2151
1428
French
Foreign Legion
North Africans
Africans
VietnameseRegularsVietnameseAuxiliaries
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Viet Minh Combatants
• Commander-in-Chief: GEN Vo Nguyen Giap• Forces:
– 4 Infantry Divisions, 1 Heavy Division, plus misc
– Estimated 55,000 troops
– Estimated losses: 7,900 KIA, 15,000 WIA
– Compare to French losses of around 8,200 soldiers, and 6,500 captured
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The Beginning of The End
Operation Castor – Dec 6, 1953 - Campaign begins with air drop into valley.
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Build-up of Forces
6 Dec 53 – 13 Mar 54
The French build strongpoints to defend garrison.
The Viet Minh surround the garrison.
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The Siege Begins
1700 13 Mar 54 – Viet Minh artillery barrage followed by human-wave assaults. “Beatrice”, falls, two days later, “Gabrielle” overrun, and three days later, “Anne-Marie”.
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Tightening the Noose
4 Apr – 1 May:
Giap switches tactics, encroaching with trenches.
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The Last Charge
• 2 May: Giap assaults on all fronts. In the next three days, he takes three more strongpoints, leaving the central area open.
• 6 May: Artillery barrages continue on remaining French troops, while Viet Minh mass.
• 7 May: At 1730, Viet Minh enter French command bunker and De Castris surrenders.
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Summary
• French errors:– French intelligence discount Viet Minh capabilities to
mass personnel and artillery.– French commander at Dien Bien Phu cannot construct
adequate fighting positions and conduct adequate patrols as spoiling attacks.
• French desire to retain Indochine dies with loss.• Viet Minh & French split Vietnam in Geneva
Accords at 17th Parallel, setting stage for Vietnam War.
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Questions?