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In 1941 a Vietnamese communist, Ho Chi Minh, drew on that history to stir up nationalist feelings.
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On September 2, 1945, the same day that Japan formally surrendered to the allies, Vietnam declared its independence.
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In November 1946, French warships opened fire on the port city of Haiphong, killing some 6,000 Vietnamese civillians .
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The decisive battle of the war began in March 1954, when the Viet Minh launched a surprise attack on a large French military base at Dien Bien Phu, in the mountains of northern Vietnam
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On May 7 , 1954 the Viet Minh finally overran the French base, ending the battle of Dien Bien Phu and shattering French moralw
