Conflict between France and Vietnam
The Tiger vs Elephant Concept
Ho Chi Minh described the French Colonists as like a mighty Elephant, and the people of Vietnam (Tonkin, Annam, Cochinchina) as a Tiger. If the Tiger stands still the might Elephant will defeat the Tiger. However if the Tiger attacks in secret, wounding the Elephant in each attack, the Elephant will slowly bleed to death.
This type of warfare was known as "Guerrilla warfare". The concept of Guerrilla warfare is in which small group of combatants such as paramilitary personnel, armed civilians, or irregulars use military tactics including ambushes, sabotage, raids, petty warfare, hit-and-run tactics, and mobility to fight a larger and less-mobile traditional military.
This type of warfare was known as "Guerrilla warfare". The concept of Guerrilla warfare is in which small group of combatants such as paramilitary personnel, armed civilians, or irregulars use military tactics including ambushes, sabotage, raids, petty warfare, hit-and-run tactics, and mobility to fight a larger and less-mobile traditional military.
Guerrilla Warfare in Indochina
The Vietminh developed tactics that had both psychological and physical effects on the French.
The reason for these psychological effects was to scare the French soldiers, making them not feel safe on or off duty. The physical effects, were either kill or wound as much French soldiers has possible to keep them off fighting the Vietminh. This link below will take you to a cite highlighting what sort of tactics the Vietminh implemented. |
Resources and Text from the Textbook.
Your Modern History Textbook is filled with great motives and tactics used by the Vietminh in their war against the French for independence.
With a partner, read pages 92-93 of the "Retrospective year 11 modern history" textbook and using the information found in the textbook and the information found on the "Vietminh Tactics" button, create a profile of the Vietminh using the website: http;/library.thinkquest.org/C0129380/events/vietminh.html |
PowerPoint, built up to conflict
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This clip highlights in detail the battle of Dien Bien Phu, a significant battle in the war of independence for Indochina. Unlike many attacks that the Vietminh implemented, the final assault was not a guerilla type attack.
Watch this clip, and answer the questions below. Questions What was the purpose of Dien Bien Phu to the French? How many paratroopers where dropped at Dien Bien Phu? Why was Dien Bien Phu compared to a noose? What was the terrain like at Dien Bien Phu? Who supplied the weapons to the Vietminh? In early march 1954 how many Vietminh troops were stationed around Dien Bien Phu? Why did French air strikes have little to no effect on the Vietminh? Why do you think the Vietminh continued to fight, even though they lost more men after taking the northern outposts? What date was the final assault? Despite having more wounded and more causalities why was this battle still a triumph one for the Vietminh? |
This clip is of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, with real footage of the Vietminh and their determination in the battle of Dien Bien Phu. It is their actions in this battle which lead them to victory in this battle as well as victory in the war of independence.
Watch this clip and answer the questions that follow. Questions In the opening minutes describe the terrain of north Vietnam? Why was the order to widen the road so important? How long did it take to complete this order? How long was the battle? What did the Vietnamese people have that would be stronger than the French weapons?Why was this so effective? How roughly how many POW (prisoners of war) returned to France? |
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Sources on Dien Bien Phu
Here are a few sources of the battle for you to read to gain a better understanding of the battle. There are a few questions to test your comprehension of the sources.
Here are a few sources of the battle for you to read to gain a better understanding of the battle. There are a few questions to test your comprehension of the sources.