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Indochina War begins
The First Indochina War begins. The Viet Minh fight against the French colonial rule. They grew from guerilla bands to a well-organized and equipped army. -
Period: to
Vietnam Crisis
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French Army Defeated
The Viet Minh defeated the French army, forcing the surrender of occupying troops. France signs the Geneva Accord, which leads to the withdrawal of French troops. Vietnam is temporarily divided between North and South. -
Republic of Vietnam
South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam. Its capital at Saigon and Ngo Dinh Diem elected president in rigged elections. Diem argues that South Vietnam was not a party to the Geneva Accords. The 1956 elections canceled. -
Battle of Dienbienphu Begins
Communist soldiers kill over 400 South Vietnamese officials. Within a year, they begin to settle the Mekong Delta. -
National Liberation Front (NLF)
In South Vietnam, the Hanoi government created the National Liberation Front to overthrow the South Vietnamese government for the reunification of North and South Vietnam. -
President Ngo Dinh Diem
President Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother are captured and killed by a group of soldiers. The death of Diem caused celebration among many people in South Vietnam, but also lead to political chaos in the nation. The United States became involved in an effort to atablize the country. -
“Operation Rolling Thunder”
United States begins to sustain bombing of North Vietnam. The bombing went for as long as three years. -
“Operation Cedar Falls”
The U.S. launches Operation Cedar Falls, a ground war effort involving U.S. and South Vietnamese troops to destroy Vietcong operations and supply sites near Saigon. -
"Tet Offensive”
The North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces launch an attack on one hundred South Vietnamese cities and towns. Although the Communists are defeated, Americans begin to question The United State’s role in the war. -
"Operation Breakfast”
Nixon approves a secret plan to bomb Cambodian enemy bases without the public knowing. When the public learns of it 14 months later, it aids the anti-war movement. -
Paris Peace Accords
The United States signs a peace treaty with the Vietcong leader for a ceasefire and American withdraw. American troops soon return from overseas. -
Communism Wins
North Vietnam attacks the South but for the United States, the war is finished. Communism takes over the country.
