The First Indochina War, 1946-1954

What was the First Indochina War?

When Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam was independent, naming it the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, fighting broke out between French troops and the Vietminh. This part of the conflict is called the First Indochina War.

When did the First Indochina War happen?

The First Indochina War took place between 1946 and 1954.

Where did the First Indochina War happen?

The conflict was largely in the north of Vietnam, but on occasions the entire country was involved. It also spilled into other parts of French Indochina, including Laos and Cambodia, which bordered Vietnam.

What were the key events in the First Indochina War?

There were a number of key events in the First Indochina War.

• ❖ With the Vietminh struggling against the better trained French soldiers, Ho Chi Minh initially sought a peace deal. However, no agreement was reached.
• ❖ In November 1946, French troops took control of Hanoi in the north, forcing Ho Chi Minh to retreat into the jungle.
• ❖ From 1950, China intervened in the war to help the Vietminh.
• ❖ A turning point in the war came in 1954, with the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.
• ❖ France was defeated at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, and the Geneva Agreement aimed to bring a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

What was China's involvement in the First Indochina War?

The communists won the civil war in China and took over in 1949. They wanted to help the communist Vietminh, and sent support in the form of training, and military supplies and equipment.

What was the USA's involvement in the First Indochina War?

The USA's involvement in the First Indochina war included:

• ❖ A commitment to support France in order to contain communism.
• ❖ $15 million in military aid, given by President Truman to France in 1950.
• ❖ US planes, tanks and other military supplies sent to support the French.
• ❖ A total of $3 billion spent to support French efforts to keep control in Vietnam.

Why did the USA get involved in the First Indochina war?

American foreign policy was dictated by ideas such as the policy of containment and the Domino Theory. They wanted to stop the Vietminh, which they saw as China's 'puppet', and to stop communism spreading in southeast Asia.

What tactics did the Vietminh use in the First Indochina War?

The Vietminh used guerrilla tactics in the war. An example is what was known as 'hit-and-run'. The Vietminh soldiers launched offensives from their hideouts in the dense jungle where the French could not find them, attacking quickly and then returning to their positions. This tactic killed over 80,000 French troops.

What problems did the French face in the First Indochina war?

The French found it challenging to fight against the Vietminh's guerrilla warfare, and often they made the situation worse by attacking peasant villages. This led to a rise in support for their enemy, Ho Chi Minh.