Vietnam Flashcards
(169 cards)
1
Q
Who was the French commander at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu?
A
General Navarre
-general De Lattre Tassigny’s successor
2
Q
What was the French plan at Dien Bien Phu
A
They would temp the Vietminh into breaking their cover, leaving them to be wiped out by France’s superior airforce and fire power.
3
Q
On what date did the guerrillas overrun northern stand alone outposts at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu?
A
13th March 1954
4
Q
When did the Vietminh advance to the French inner strongpoints?
A
End of March 1954
5
Q
When did the Vietminh break through the inner ring of French strongpoints?
A
7th May 1954
6
Q
How many French were wounded/killed at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu?
A
4,000
7
Q
How many Vietminh were wounded/killed at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu?
A
20,000
8
Q
How many French were missing/ captured at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu?
A
8,000
9
Q
Why did the Battle of Dien Bien Phu end French involvement in Vietnam?
A
Great humiliation, no justification for more conflict
10
Q
Why did the Battle of Dien Bien Phu end French involvement in Vietnam?
A
Great humiliation, no justification for more conflict
11
Q
Describe the events of the Gulf of Tongking incident
A
The media stated that 2 US torpedo vessels were sunk by the communist NVA, resulting in a retaliation.
In fact, the US ship hadbeen spying and so the NVA had every right to retaliate.
12
Q
Why was the Gulf of Tongking incident presented as NVA aggression to communist.
A
Johnson wanted Congress to pass the ‘Gulf of Tongking resolution’
13
Q
What was the ‘Gulf of Tongking resolution’ give Johnson the authority to do?
A
“Take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent and further aggression”
14
Q
What was the ‘Gulf of Tongking resolution’ give Johnson the authority to do?
A
“Take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent and further aggression”
15
Q
When was it first declared that US planes would bomb Laos?
Why did they not also bomb Vietnam?
A
December 1964
They could not justify it to the American people
16
Q
Describe the events and consequences of the attack on Pleiku
A
6-7th February 1965:
VC fired mortar bombs at a US base at Pleiku where 400 ‘advisers’ lived
- 10 aircraft destroyed
- 8 ‘advisers’ killed
- over 100 others wounded
This was the justification Johnson needed to bomb North Vietnam.
17
Q
Describe the events and consequences of the attack on Pleiku
A
6-7th February 1965:
VC fired mortar bombs at a US base at Pleiku where 400 ‘advisers’ lived
- 10 aircraft destroyed
- 8 ‘advisers’ killed
- over 100 others wounded
This was the justification Johnson needed to bomb North Vietnam.
18
Q
When was the Geneva agreement?
A
1954
19
Q
What was stated in the Geneva agreement? (4)
A
- France to grant independence to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam
- Vietnam to be temporarily split in half
- Land separating 2 sides to become demilitarised
- Free democratic elections to be held in 1956 to unite North and South under one leader
20
Q
Who was expected to win the 1956 elections?
Why were Americans not comfortable with this?
A
Communist Ho Chi Minh
Since the hugely influential powers of China and Russia, they felt that this would shift the balance of world power to communism
21
Q
Who was expected to win the 1956 elections?
Why were Americans not comfortable with this?
A
Communist Ho Chi Minh
Since the hugely influential powers of China and Russia, they felt that this would shift the balance of world power to communism
22
Q
Who came up with the ‘domino theory’
A
Eisenhower’s Secretary of State, John Forster Dulles
23
Q
Give an example of an incident that disproved the domino theory
A
China became Communist in 1949 without influencing others
24
Q
Give an example of an incident that disproved the domino theory
A
China became Communist in 1949 without influencing others
25
Why did the US initially feel that the situation in Vietnam was simple?
They had recently lost 30,000 men in Korea, where there were good guys in the South and bad guys in the North.
26
Which president sent the first 'advisers' to Vietnam?
How many were there?
When was this?
Eisenhower
17
November 1954
27
By what point were there 685 'advisers' in Vietnam?
January 1961
28
Who was the Emperor of South Vietnam?
| Who ousted him as leader?
Bao Dai
| Ngo Dinh Diem
29
What was wrong with Diem's government?
Worked against Geneva agreement to prevent free elections (supported by USA)
Highly corrupt government with bias towards Catholics and many examples of nepotism
30
What was SEATO?
South East Asia Treaty Organisation
Organisation set up to prevent the spread of communism with member countries pledging themselves to the protection of South East Asia
31
Which 5 members of SEATO later sent troops to Vietnam?
Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the Philippines, and the USA
32
Which 5 members of SEATO later sent troops to Vietnam?
Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the Philippines, and the USA
33
How many VC were in the South in:
1. 1959
2. 1961
3. 1964
1. 5000
2. 20,000
3. Over 100,000
34
By what year were there:
1. 5000 VC in the south
2. 20,000 VC in the south
3. 100,000 VC in the south
1. 1959
2. 1961
3. 1964
35
How many members did the VC/NVA have at its peak?
Approximately 800,000 but because record keeping was so poor there may have been substantially more
36
What was the population of the Soviet Union at this time?
160 million
37
What was the Ho Chi Minh trail?
1000km routeway used to supply VC/NVA
80km wide in places
Dummy paths and depots to confuse enemy planes
38
Why did the Guerrillas did tunnels?
To counter the US air attacks
39
How long were the VC tunnels?
250km
40
How long were the VC tunnels?
250km
41
How did the North Vietnamese win 'hearts and minds'?
Promised land, rice and clothes to those in the south who had been exploited by the previous government
Dug shelters to protect civilians during US air raids
42
How did the North Vietnamese win 'hearts and minds'?
Promised land, rice and clothes to those in the south who had been exploited by the previous government
Dug shelters to protect civilians during US air raids
43
Why was the interrogation of the VC largely unsuccessful?
They worked in small groups so even if they gave into interrogation, they could only offer little information
44
Give an example of the effectiveness of guerrilla traps
One battalion had over 600 casualties in 6 months without even meeting the enemy
45
Give an example of the effectiveness of guerrilla traps
One battalion had over 600 casualties in 6 months without even meeting the enemy
46
Name 4 guerrilla traps
1. Bouncing betty
2. Tin can trap
3. Fuel tank trap
4. Punji trap
47
What was a bouncing betty trap?
Mine buried under surface, which would explode if stood on
48
What was a tin can trap?
Grenade attached to a trip wire
49
What was a fuel tank trap?
Grenade with rubber band wrapped around it which was placed inside the fuel tank of a vehicle.
Eventually the rubber perished and grenade went off, exploding the vehicle
50
What was a punji trap?
Holes filled with spikes that were covered with leaves.
-some spikes were covered in human excretion to cause blood poisoning
51
What was a punji trap?
Holes filled with spikes that were covered with leaves.
-some spikes were covered in human excretion to cause blood poisoning
52
How many US officers were in Vietnam in:
1. 1961
2. December 1964
3. 1966
4. January 1968
1. 685 'advisers'
2. 16,000
3. 268,000
4. 500,000
53
When were there:
1. 685 'advisers'
2. 16,000 GIs
3. 268,000 GIs
4. 500,000 GIs
1. 1961
2. December 1964
3. 1966
4. January 1968
54
When were the first official GIs sent to Vietnam?
How many were there?
What base were they sent to?
8th March 1965
3500
Dannang
55
When were the first official GIs sent to Vietnam?
How many were there?
What base were they sent to?
8th March 1965
3500
Dannang
56
What was the average age of US troops in Vietnam?
19
57
What was the average age of US troops in Vietnam?
19
58
What were the disadvantages of Strategic hamlets?
1. Actually increased number joining NLF as peasants resented being forced to move and work without pay to build defences against an army that they considered no threat to them.
- NLF membership had grown to over 17,000 (a 300% increase in 2 years)
2. Corrupt system. Communist symoathisers informed NLF and hamlets were destroyed
3. No way of knowing if they were moving in Communists
4. Many upset for religious reasons as they believed it was vital to live where their ancestors were buried.
59
When was the Strategic Hamlet programme introduced?
| Which President introduced it?
1962, John F. Kennedy
60
When was Operation Rolling Thunder?
11th February 1965 - October 1968
61
What were the limitations of ORT?
80% of North Vietnamese industry and 75 of the population were safe from bombing as the US did not want to provoke a soviet response.
$900 billion invested, $300 billion worth of damage
62
What were the limitations of ORT?
80% of North Vietnamese industry and 75 of the population were safe from bombing as the US did not want to provoke a soviet response.
$900 billion invested, $300 billion worth of damage
63
Name 3 chemicals used by the US
Napalm
Agent orange
Agent blue
64
Napalm
Incendiary device that attaches to anything it touches
| -75% of victims suffered 5th degree burns
65
Agent orange
Mix of powerful defoliants
It got into the soil and then the food chain which lead to tumours and birth defects mainly in Vietnamese population but also in Americans
66
Agent blue
Used to try to deny food to the NLF, however peasants suffered most
1962-69: 688,000 agricultural acres sprayed with it
67
Operation Ranch Hand
1961-72: 19 million gallons of herbicides over 4.5 million acres
1969 - 1,034,300 hectares of forest destroyed
68
What was phase 1 of Westmoreland's 3 phase plan of US action in Vietnam?
What was phase 2?
Bombing
| Search and destroy
69
What was phase 1 of Westmoreland's 3 phase plan of US action in Vietnam?
What was phase 2?
Bombing
| Search and destroy
70
Give an example of search and destroy tactics being used successfully
Attleboro 1966
| -1,106 NVA killed
71
Give an example of search and destroy tactics being used successfully
Attleboro 1966
| -1,106 NVA killed
72
Why was My Lai referred to as 'pinkville'?
It was suspected of being a VC HQ
73
Charlie company
Amateur soldiers with an average age of 20.
In training their commander would ask them "What is the spirit of a bayonette?" and they would reply "to kill sir, to kill!"
Before My Lai, Lieutenant Calley had already thrown a man down a well and shot him - demonstrating his brutality.
74
What time did helicopters of Charlie Company leave at?
| What time did they arrive in My Lai?
0722
| 0755
75
When was the My Lai massacre?
16th March 1968
76
Give an example of a genuine member of the VC who escaped the My Lai massacre
Nguyen Ngo
77
How many inhabitants were there in My Lai?
| How many were killed?
700
| 400
78
How many inhabitants were there in My Lai?
| How many were killed?
700
| 400
79
Who was Hugh Thompson?
An American GI who airlifted over a dozen Vietnamese to safety during the My Lai massacre
80
How many US casualties were there at My Lai?
1 (accidentally shot himself)
81
When did the events of My Lai come to light?
November 1969, 18 months later
82
How many men were trilled for the atrocities at My Lai?
| How many came away with no sentence?
46
| 45
83
What was William Calley charged with?
| What was his sentence?
109 murders
| 3 days in prison, 3 years house arrest
84
What was William Calley charged with?
| What was his sentence?
109 murders
| 3 days in prison, 3 years house arrest
85
Give an example of the psychological effect the My Lai massacre had on the Americans involved
Sgt. Johnson on heavy medication to control himself. Attempted suicide 3 times.
86
Give an example of the psychological effect the My Lai massacre had on the Americans involved
Sgt. Johnson on heavy medication to control himself. Attempted suicide 3 times.
87
Why were Americans opposed to the war in Vietnam? (4)
1. Many felt the issue didn't directly affect USA so was unnecessary.
2. Martin Luther King Jnr. outraged by disproportionate African American casualties
3. USA was spending too much on Vietnam and should be focusing on Johnson's promise of social reforms
- opposition grew when taxes were raised in 1967
4. My Lai massacre questioned the stated aim of bringing freedom and democracy
88
Why were Americans opposed to the war in Vietnam? (4)
1. Many felt the issue didn't directly affect USA so was unnecessary.
2. Martin Luther King Jnr. outraged by disproportionate African American casualties
3. USA was spending too much on Vietnam and should be focusing on Johnson's promise of social reforms
- opposition grew when taxes were raised in 1967
4. My Lai massacre questioned the stated aim of bringing freedom and democracy
89
When was the worst week in the Vietnam war in terms of American deaths?
How many were killed?
May 1968
| 562 killed in a single week, death of 5500 VC was no consolation
90
Give an example of an increase in conscription
February 1965: 3000 men a month
| October 1965: 33,000 a month
91
How many draft dodgers were wanted by the police by late 1969?
34,000
92
Give an example of people protesting by attempting to prevent drafting
In Catonsville and Maryland 2 Catholic priests were imprisoned for being involved in draft board office raidings
93
Give an example of people protesting by attempting to prevent drafting
In Catonsville and Maryland 2 Catholic priests were imprisoned for being involved in draft board office raidings
94
Veterans march
1967: 100,000 demonstrated outside of the Pentagon, Washington DC
25th April 1971: 300,000
e.g. Rusty Sachs
95
Name 2 anti-war slogans
1. "Hey, Hey LBG. How many kids did you kill today?
| 2. "Draft beer, not boys"
96
Name 2 slogans in support of the war
1. "I wish i had a draft card" (carried by a young girl"
| 2. "Your flag, your future"
97
Name 2 slogans in support of the war
1. "I wish i had a draft card" (carried by a young girl"
| 2. "Your flag, your future"
98
Give evidence of widespread support for the war
Gallop poll at the start of 1968 showed:
- 46% still approved of Johnson's handling of the war
- 50% believed it essential to prevent the spread of communism
99
Why was Westmoreland convinced he was winning the war by 1968?
VC had lost over 100,000 while they had won every set piece battle including the Battle of Dak to, near to Pleiku
100
When was the Tet offensive?
Wednesday 31st January 1968
101
What was the assassination that occurred during Tet?
19 man suicide squad attack on US embassy, all of whom died
102
How many places were attacked during Tet?
100 cities, towns and military bases
103
How many officials were murdered during Tet?
3000-5000
104
How many South Vietnamese became refugees as a result of Tet?
120,000
105
How many civilian deaths were there in Hue during Tet?
4000
106
How many deaths were there altogether as a result of the Tet offensive?
100,000
107
What percentage of the deaths in the Tet offensive were Vietcong?
47%
108
What percentage of the deaths in the Tet offensive were NVA?
24%
109
What percentage of the deaths in the Tet offensive were civilians?
22%
110
What percentage of the deaths in the Tet offensive were ARVN?
5%
111
What percentage of the deaths in the Tet offensive were American?
2%
112
Why was the attack on khesanh such a threat to the US?
- US base located on North/South border
- Monsoon season so couldn't launch air attacks
- Vastly outnumbered and entirely surrounded
- All evacuation routes including vital route 9 were controlled by NVA
113
Why was the attack on khesanh such a threat to the US?
- US base located on North/South border
- Monsoon season so couldn't launch air attacks
- Vastly outnumbered and entirely surrounded
- All evacuation routes including vital route 9 were controlled by NVA
114
Why did the VC/NVA agree to peace talks after the Tet offensive?
They had been unsuccessful in winning hearts and minds and suffered severe loses (71,000)
Knew they couldn't launch an attack of this scale again
115
During Tet what proportion of the US news was dedicated to Vietnam?
How many people tuned into this nightly?
90%
| 50 million
116
During Tet what proportion of the US news was dedicated to Vietnam?
How many people tuned into this nightly?
90%
| 50 million
117
Give an example of the response to Tet from the media
"What the hell is going on? I thought we were winning the war"
-Walter Cronkite, leading news presenter
118
Give an example of the response to Tet from the media
"What the hell is going on? I thought we were winning the war"
-Walter Cronkite, leading news presenter
119
How did politicians respond to Tet?
Westmoreland was refused when he asked for another 200,000 troops to join the 500,000 already serving in Vietnam
120
How did politicians respond to Tet?
Westmoreland was refused when he asked for another 200,000 troops to join the 500,000 already serving in Vietnam
121
Name an anti-war protest that occurred in February 1970
Bank burned down in California
122
What happened at Kent state on 2nd May 1970?
Over 800 protested and a building was burned down on campus
123
What happened at Kent state on 4th May 1970?
4 shot dead, 10 others wounded
124
Give another example of national guardsmen killing protesters
2 shot dead at Jackson state university
125
Who was the governor of Ohio at the time of the Kent state protest?
Jim Rhodes
126
How did Jim Rhodes respond to the Kent State protest?
Called the demonstrators communists and likened them to Hitler's brownshirts, stating that they were "the worst type of people that we harbour in America"
127
What were the consequences of the Kent State protest?
Student strike centre at Brandeis University claimed that students and lecturers from 450 colleges and universities had gone on strike
Over 70 injured in a New York demonstration
128
What were the consequences of the Kent State protest?
Student strike centre at Brandeis University claimed that students and lecturers from 450 colleges and universities had gone on strike
Over 70 injured in a New York demonstration
129
Who was William Fulbright?
Chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee
| -the committee considered proposals and advice to end the war in Vietnam
130
How many people gave evidence during the Fulbright Hearings?
22
131
Who gave the most damning evidence at the Fulbright Hearings?
John Kerry, representing 'Vietnam Veterans Against the War'
132
What did John Kerry end on in the Fulbright Hearings?
"How do you ask a man to die in Vietnam? How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"
133
Why were the Fulbright Hearings different from previous anti-war demonstrations?
This was 'official'
| -it was part of the US public record of Vietnam
134
What was 'Vietnamisation'?
The principal of South Vietnam slowly taking over all civil and military aspects of the war
135
How many troops had been withdrawn by:
1. June 1969
2. April 1970
3. End of 1971
1. 25,000
2. 150,000
3. 400,000
136
At what point had:
1. 25,000 troops been withdrawn
2. 150,000
3. 400,000
1. June 1969
2. April 1970
3. End of 1971
137
At what point had:
1. 25,000 troops been withdrawn
2. 150,000
3. 400,000
1. June 1969
2. April 1970
3. End of 1971
138
By which point were there only 'advisers' left in Vietnam?
April 1973
139
What did search and destroy missions become known as towards the end of the war?
'Search and avoid'
140
What was 'fragging'
Using a fragmentation weapon (hand grenade) to get rid of an unwanted officer
141
How many fragging incidents were there from 1969-71?
| How many were killed?
730
| 83 killed
142
How many fragging incidents were there from 1969-71?
| How many were killed?
730
| 83 killed
143
What proportion of the US forces were addicted to heroine by 1971?
1/10
144
What proportion of the US forces were addicted to heroine by 1971?
1/10
145
How many soldiers were in the ARVN by 1972?
Over 1 million
146
What did Theiu do during the 1971 elections?
Tried to buy votes
147
Why did Theiu's opponent refuse to stand against him?
He said that he could put up with "a disgusting farce that strips away all the people's hope of a democratic regime
148
When/why did Nixon invade Cambodia?
One month after the pro-American governement of Lon Nol seized power in Cambodia in March 1970
Nixon caused a violent storm of protest (Kent State) when he ordered a 'friendly' invasion with the 'limited' objective of driving the NVA out of their Cambodian sanctuaries.
149
When/why did Nixon invade Cambodia?
One month after the pro-American governement of Lon Nol seized power in Cambodia in March 1970
Nixon caused a violent storm of protest (Kent State) when he ordered a 'friendly' invasion with the 'limited' objective of driving the NVA out of their Cambodian sanctuaries.
150
1972 NVA attacks
NVA armed with tanks and artillery invaded the south on a far greater scale than in 1968.
Hanoi expected an easy victory since most of the Americans were gone
30 March 1972: NVA launched a massive campaign led by 100 soviet tanks
17th April 1972: 10,000 NVA troops drove straight through the demilitarised zone in Quang Tai province to join another 20,000 already in the area
151
What was Linebacker?
Nixon ordered the air force to bomb the North on a far greater scale than seen in ORT
Port of Haiphong completely destroyed
Bridges protected in earlier raids were targeted
Round the clock B-52 bombers supported by F-111s and F-4 phantoms
36,000 tonnes of bombs dropped in a matter of days
152
When was the Paris peace agreement signed?
27th January 1973
153
What were the terms of the Paris peace agreement?
- Cease fire to take effect from 28th January
- US armed forces to withdraw completely
-
154
What were the terms of the Paris peace agreement? (6)
- Cease fire to take effect from 28th January
- US armed forces to withdraw completely
- All foreign forces to leave Cambodia and Laos
- All US POWs returned
- Elections aimed at reuniting Vietnam
- North Vietnam to recognise South Vietnamese government
155
What were the weaknesses of the Paris peace agreement?
Made between Le Duc Tho and Kissinger, aims of south Vietnamese ignored
Little control and supervision of the agreement. Combined with US withdrawal, attack from the North would be easier
156
How did US congress respond to the cease fire?
An ammendment was passed which "prohibited any funds whatsoever to finance directly or indirectly combat activities by the US military forces in, over, or from off the shore of North Vietnam, South Vietnam or Cambodia"
157
By which point did US minesweepers finish clearing the mines in North Vietnamese waters?
Mid 1973
158
How many US POWs were returned?
600
| however, 2500 had been shot down so rumours persisted that they were still alive in Vietnam
159
How many US POWs were returned?
600
| however, 2500 had been shot down so rumours persisted that they were still alive in Vietnam
160
When did Nixon resign?
| Who replaced him?
August 1974
| Gerald Ford
161
How did Theiu's evacuation plan fail?
Military authorities chose a poor highway to lead 1/2 million to safety
- only 1/4 reach their destination
- they were bombed even though they told people the route was safe
- many died of starvation
162
How long did it take for Hue to fall?
3 days
163
How long did it take for Dannang to fall?
32 hours
164
How many refugees fled to Dannang?
350,000
165
How far ahead were the NVA of Hanoi's expectations?
2 years
166
Why was South Vietnam 'falling apart' by 1974? (5)
Inflation and increasing unemployment
Cease fire broke down as both sides tried to improve their military positions
1974 - ARVN abandoned bases in outlying towns
South Vietnamese government expected US aid
Corruption in military and government
167
How did Theiu's evacuation plan fail?
Military authorities chose a poor highway to lead 1/2 million to safety
- 140 miles long
- only 1/4 reach their destination
- they were bombed even though they told people the route was safe
- many died of starvation
168
Why was South Vietnam 'falling apart' by 1974? (5)
Inflation and increasing unemployment
Cease fire broke down as both sides tried to improve their military positions
1974 - ARVN abandoned bases in outlying towns
South Vietnamese government expected US aid
Corruption in military and government
169
Why did the USA lose the war in Vietnam? (7)
1. Soldiers were mainly unwilling and inexperienced conscripts
2. Vietnamese people
- failed to win 'hearts and minds'
3. Inadequate leadership
- not trained against guerrilla warfare
4. Reliance on airpower
5. Public opinion
6. Body count
7. Insistence of the 'Domino Theory'
