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Ho Chi Minh forms a group called Viet Minh in communist Vietnam. Members of this independent movement group opposed foreign occupation.
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World war II ends. The war ends after America drops bomb on Japan.
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Japan formally surrenders to the Allies after America drops bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On this same day, Vietnam declares independence from France.
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Warships from France opened fire in the city of Haiphong, killing 6,000 Vietnamese civilians.
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The Viet Minh launched an attack at Dien Bien Phu, a large military base belonging to the French military
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French and Viet Minh signed the Geneva Accords. Under agreement conflict between France and Vietnam stops and Vietnam splits along the 17 parallel temporarily.
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The Viet Minh overran the French base, shattering French morale.
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The United States puts anticommunist South Vietnamese leader Ngo Dinh Diem in charge by using their influence.
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Viet Minh formed a group called the National Liberation Front, inviting all opponents of Diem. The group was referred to as the "Viet Cong", meaning Vietnamese communists.
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Kennedy becomes president and sends an inspection team to the south of Vietnam to evaluate the situation.
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A Buddhist rally was held opposing Diem's policies, during which South Vietnamese police killed nine demonstrators.
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Viet Cong attacked a US air base in south. This led to a series of massive air strikes.
