Cultural and Geographic History
The Vietnam War was preceded by the First Indochina War from 1946 to 1955. It occurred after Vietnam was split up into two separate countries, North and South. Over the course of the war, more than 3 million people died during the conflict, including 58,000 Americans. North Vietnam was supported by the Soviet Union, China, and other communist allies (the Viet Cong). In opposition, the government of South Vietnam was supported by the United States and other anti-communist allies. The South Vietnam forces relied on air superiority tactics like artillery and airstrikes, while the North Vietnam army utilized guerrilla warfare, which involves military strategies like ambushes, sabotage, raids, and hit-and-run tactics. The Vietnam War took place in the countries of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, finally ending with the fall of Saigon in April of 1975.
North Vietnam
- 1945: Foundation of the Communist-ruled Democratic Republic of Vietnam under Ho Chi Minh
- 1957: The Viet Cong begins fighting back against Deim's regime with attacks on government officials and other targets
- 1959: Engagement with South Vietnamese forces in firefights
- 1975: Communist forces sieze control of Saigon, ending the war
- 1976: Country is unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
South Vietnam
- 1955: Ngo Dinh Diem becomes president of the Government of the Republic of Vietnam (GVN); receives American training and equipment in support against Communism
- Leads to arrests of 100,000 Viet Cong members, many of who were tortured and executed
- 1960: formation of National Liberation Front against Diem's regime
- 1961: America begins building up military, economic, and technical aid in order to help confront the Viet Cong threat
- 1962: American military presence in South Vietnam consists of 9,000 troops
- 1963: Diem and President John Kennedy are both assassinated
- 1965: President Lyndon Johnson makes the decision to send American troops into battle
- 1969: 500,000 American troops present in Vietnam
- 1973: US withdrawal
- 1945: Foundation of the Communist-ruled Democratic Republic of Vietnam under Ho Chi Minh
- 1957: The Viet Cong begins fighting back against Deim's regime with attacks on government officials and other targets
- 1959: Engagement with South Vietnamese forces in firefights
- 1975: Communist forces sieze control of Saigon, ending the war
- 1976: Country is unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
South Vietnam
- 1955: Ngo Dinh Diem becomes president of the Government of the Republic of Vietnam (GVN); receives American training and equipment in support against Communism
- Leads to arrests of 100,000 Viet Cong members, many of who were tortured and executed
- 1960: formation of National Liberation Front against Diem's regime
- 1961: America begins building up military, economic, and technical aid in order to help confront the Viet Cong threat
- 1962: American military presence in South Vietnam consists of 9,000 troops
- 1963: Diem and President John Kennedy are both assassinated
- 1965: President Lyndon Johnson makes the decision to send American troops into battle
- 1969: 500,000 American troops present in Vietnam
- 1973: US withdrawal