Why didn't America surrender at the end of the Vietnam War?
Since a state of war did not exist between the two countries, surrender in either direction was not an option. There was no American surrender at the end of the Viet Nam war.
What happened to US troops in Vietnam after the war?
March 29 U.S. withdraws from Vietnam Two months after the signing of the Vietnam peace agreement, the last U.S. combat troops leave South Vietnam as Hanoi frees the remaining American prisoners of war held in North Vietnam. America’s direct eight-year intervention in the Vietnam War was at an end.
When did the United States withdraw from Vietnam?
March 29 U.S. withdraws from Vietnam Two months after the signing of the Vietnam peace agreement, the last U.S. combat troops leave South Vietnam as Hanoi frees the remaining American prisoners of...
What happened to South Vietnam after the fall of Saigon?
South Vietnam surrenders. Having crushed the last major organized opposition before Saigon, the North Vietnamese got into position for the final assault. In Saigon, South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu resigned and transferred authority to Vice President Tran Van Huong before fleeing the city on April 25.
When did the Americans leave Vietnam?
What was the first military intervention in Vietnam?
Who was the platoon leader who killed Vietnamese civilians?
About this website
How did the US finally end the Vietnam War?
In January 1973, the United States and North Vietnam concluded a final peace agreement, ending open hostilities between the two nations. War between North and South Vietnam continued, however, until April 30, 1975, when DRV forces captured Saigon, renaming it Ho Chi Minh City (Ho himself died in 1969).
Why did the US take over Vietnam?
The United States entered Vietnam with the principal purpose of preventing a communist takeover of the region. In that respect, it failed: the two Vietnams were united under a communist banner in July 1976. Neighbouring Laos and Cambodia similarly fell to communists.
Why did the US drop out of the Vietnam War?
The Army had to fight in unfamiliar territory, was lacking in moral, were not prepared for the conditions, could not shut down the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and were untrained to respond to guerilla warfare. This combination of disadvantages and the loss of public support led to the United States withdrawing from Vietnam.
Who withdrew the US from Vietnam?
President NixonSeptember 16, 1969 - President Nixon orders the withdrawal of 35,000 soldiers from Vietnam and a reduction in draft calls.
Is Vietnam still communist?
Vietnam is a socialist republic with a one-party system led by the Communist Party. The CPV espouses Marxism–Leninism and Hồ Chí Minh Thought, the ideologies of the late Hồ Chí Minh. The two ideologies serve as guidance for the activities of the party and state.
How many wars has America lost?
US lost five major wars after 1945 However, the US was unable to get any significant victory in its wars abroad. America fought five major wars after 1945 including Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan in addition to some minor wars in Somalia, Yemen, and Libya.
Which president stopped the Vietnam War?
President NixonPresident Nixon announces Vietnam War is ending.
Did any American soldiers stay in Vietnam after the war?
It's estimated that tens of thousands of veterans have returned to Vietnam since the 1990s, mostly for short visits to the places where they once served. Decades after the fall of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) many former soldiers still wonder why they were fighting.
Could the US have won the Vietnam War?
In conclusion, the evidence clearly suggests that the United States could have never have won the Vietnam War.
What President started Vietnam War?
The major initiative in the Lyndon Johnson presidency was the Vietnam War. By 1968, the United States had 548,000 troops in Vietnam and had already lost 30,000 Americans there.
When did USA pull out of Vietnam?
January 27, 1973 - U.S. troops are planned to be withdrawn from South Vietnam in 60 days due to the signing of the Paris Peace Accords. North Vietnam and Nixon also agree to withdraw troops from Cambodia and Laos. March 29, 1973 - The last American combat troops are withdrawn from Vietnam.
What started the Vietnam War?
Gulf of Tonkin Incident. The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, also known as the U.S.S. Maddox incident, marked the formal entry of the United States into the Vietnam War. “In the summer of 1964 the Johnson administration was laying secret plans for an expansion of U.S. military involvement in Vietnam.
What were the main reasons for US involvement in the war?
The main reasons the US got involved in the war was because of nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and forming allies. Many countries were scared of Germany's nationalism.
Why did the US get involved in Vietnam quizlet?
1) The main reason for US involvement in Vietnam was to stop the spread of communism under Truman's policy of Containment.
Could the US have won the Vietnam War?
In conclusion, the evidence clearly suggests that the United States could have never have won the Vietnam War.
Why did the war in Vietnam start?
The United States had provided funding, armaments, and training to South Vietnam's government and military since Vietnam's partition into the communist North and the democratic South in 1954. Tensions escalated into armed conflict between the two sides, and in 1961 U.S. President John F.
How many Americans were left in Vietnam after Saigon fell?
Answer (1 of 5): Tucker Gougelmann - Wikipedia Was a retired CIA Agent who returned to Saigon to assist Vietnamese Nationals who had worked for the CIA in being evacuated. He was left behind as he was still helping get these Vietnamese out. Gougelmann was arrested and died under arrest by the N...
Why did the United States Withdraw From the Vietnam War?
Why did the United States Withdraw From the Vietnam War? The United States withdrew from the Vietnam War for several reasons. The Army had to fight in unfamiliar territory, was lacking in moral, were not prepared for the conditions, could not shut down the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and were untrained to respond to guerilla warfare.
Ending the Vietnam War, 1973-1975 - United States Department of State
Ending the Vietnam War, 1973-1975. Newly elected President Richard M. Nixon declared in 1969 that he would continue the American involvement in the Vietnam War in order to end the conflict and secure "peace with honor" for the United States and for its ally, South Vietnam.
When did the South surrender to the North?
In 1975 the RVN surrendered to the DRV, so from a crude outside perspective you could say the South surrendered to the North. From a legal and nationalist perspective, the long civil war ended with the DRV finally asserting its control over the whole contested nation.
Why did the South Vietnamese lose the war?
The South Vietnamese lost the war and their nation due to their own incompetence, corruption, and lack of national will. The U.S., Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and the Philippines (all of whom sent armed forces to Vietnam to assist the South Vietnamese and subsequently withdrew prior to the North Vietnamese victory) did not “lose” the war, were not defeated, and therefore had no need to “surrender” to anyone.
What does "North Vietnamese" mean?
Secondly, I am really confused with your term - North Vietnamese. You mean that this term indicates Vietnamese people living in the North or supporting the North during the Vietnam War/a Resistance war against America to save the nation. I know that America would like to use this kind of similar terms to divide Vietnam. In reality, the Vietnamese use these terms such as North Vietnamese, South Vietnamese, Central Vietnamese referring much to the region where they live rather than something similar to “National identities”. But America and its propaganda system would prefer to describe the terms “North Vietnamese”, “South Vietnamese” as “National identities”. I think that America, France also used the same tactic “Divide and Conquer’ from the colonial era but America used them more intelligent and greater much than France used in the past.
What was the North's strategy in 1968?
The strategy of the North was to save their Regular Army and fight mostly in the south with the guerrillas, the Viet Cong. They were mostly decimated in the Tet New Year uprising in 1968. From then on the North waited for us to pull our ground troops out while they built up their regular force for the final push.
Did the US win the Vietnam War?
Only the most grossly misinformed would suggest that the US won the Vietnam War. First we need to correct the claim that ‘millions’ of Vietnamese was killed. The total death toll on BOTH sides, including civilians were around 1.5 million, including slightly under 60,000 US soldiers and over 600,000 civilians (some 80,000 children were killed in the conflict). The ‘enemy’ - The North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Minh (aka Viet Cong) guerillas suffered a little over 400,000 killed- not the millions supposed. Recorded casualties are never 100% accurate, but I doubt they are wrong by a factor of 1
Did Vietnam accept surrender?
I still see VIetnam on the map, so Vietnam didn’t accept any surrender condition. The only one that vanished is South Vietnam.
Was the US defeated in Vietnam?
It is true however, to say that the US forces weren’t fully defeated in the field - essentially the will to continue the fight, back home was lost since despite the material advantages enjoyed by the US, no real headway was discernable in terms of defeating the enemy and people were wondering why thousands of their fellow Americans were being killed (and 10’s thousands more being severaly wounded) to defend a country that nobody -in brutal honesty- really cared about. Had there been the will to take on North Vietnam on their own turf, I have no doubt that the US would have been victorious, but that would have risked dragging the other large communist nations into the conflict (The Soviet Union most obviously) which may well have resulted in a nuclear escalation- no one wanted that.
When did China and the French agree to return to Vietnam?
In exchange, China agrees to assist the French in returning to Vietnam north of the 17th parallel. March 6, 1946 — After negotiations with the Chinese and the Viet Minh, the French sign an agreement recognizing Vietnam within the French Union.
How many troops were sent to Vietnam in 1964?
military advisers were ordered to the Republic of Vietnam (RVN or South Vietnam), bringing the total American troop level to 21,000. Shortly thereafter an incident occurred off the coast of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) that was destined to escalate the conflict to new levels and lead to the full scale Americanization of the war.
Why did Nixon order the bombing of North Vietnam?
To reassure Thieu of American resolve, Nixon ordered a massive bombing campaign against North Vietnam utilizing B-52s and tactical aircraft in Operation Linebacker II, which began on December 18 with large raids against both Hanoi and the port of Haiphong. Nixon justified his actions by blaming the impasse in negotiations on the North Vietnamese. Although this heavy bombing campaign caused protests, both domestically and internationally, and despite significant aircraft losses over North Vietnam, Nixon continued the operation until December 29. He also exerted pressure on Thieu to accept the terms of the agreement reached in October.
Why did Truman send the MAAG to Vietnam?
September 1950 — Truman sends the Military Assistance Advisory Group ( MAAG) Indochina to Vietnam to assist the French. The President claimed they were not sent as combat troops, but to supervise the use of $10 million worth of U.S. military equipment to support the French in their effort to fight the Viet Minh forces.
What was Kennedy's idea of creating a neutral Laos?
The idea of creating a neutral Laos is suggested to Kennedy. May 1961 — Kennedy sends 400 United States Army Special Forces personnel to South Vietnam to train South Vietnamese soldiers following a visit to the country by Vice-President Johnson. June 1961 — Kennedy meets with Khrushchev in Vienna.
Why did heroin use spike in Vietnam?
Troops used heroin and other drugs to pass time, deal with the mental stresses of combat, boredom, and feelings of hopelessness.
How many troops did President Johnson send to Vietnam?
July 28, 1965 — In a nationally televised speech, President Johnson announced his decision to send an additional 50,000 American troops to South Vietnam, increasing the number of personnel there by two-thirds and to bring the commitment to 125,000.
Who was the leader of South Vietnam when the Saigon government surrendered?
He said the Saigon government agreed to surrender “without conditions” and called on the people to obey “the liberation forces.”. Gen. Duong Van Minh, who took over as president of a war-weary South Vietnam two days before, announced the surrender at 10:20 a.m. (10:20 p.m. EDT Tuesday) in a 60-second radio address to his people.
What time did the South surrender?
At 10:30 a.m, President Minh announced the unconditional surrender of South Vietnam to the Communists “to avoid needless bloodshed.”. At 12:30 p.m. North Vietnamese army tanks rumbled into the city and headed for the presidential palace to accept the surrender. Residents were obviously fearful.
What was the name of the city that the Vietnamese conquered?
A triumphant Communist army rode tanks flying Viet Cong flags into Saigon today, ending 35 years of war against American, French, Japanese and Vietnamese forces in the jungles of Indochina. The conquering Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces crushed a few pockets of resistance by diehard defenders and then renamed the South Vietnamese capital “Ho ...
What time did the communications between Saigon and the rest of the world resume?
Communications between Saigon and the rest of the world resumed at 5 p.m. (5 a.m. EDT) after being out for 32 hours. A Viet Cong official at the Post Office apologized after UPI complained of the breakdown. “I’m very sorry, sir,” the official said in Vietnamese. “We just have to cut this for a little while. We will give you back your service very soon.”
Why did North Vietnamese people gather in Hanoi?
Hundreds of thousands of North Vietnamese crowded into the streets of Hanoi to celebrate the surrender of the Saigon government.
How long is the coded message for Saigon?
This message will consist of a temperature report for Saigon of “105 degrees and rising” followed by approximately the first 30 seconds of “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas”. This message will be broadcast every 15 minutes for approximately two hours.
What did the people of Saigon watch?
A few of Saigon’s residents cheered their conquerors but most of them simply watched as Communist tanks, trucks and jeeps rolled down the streets of the city.
Who was the South Vietnamese president when he fled?
In Saigon, South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu resigned and transferred authority to Vice President Tran Van Huong before fleeing the city on April 25. By April 27, the North Vietnamese had completely encircled Saigon and began to maneuver for a complete takeover.
What happened to Saigon in 1975?
The South Vietnamese forces had collapsed under the rapid advancement of the North Vietnamese. The most recent fighting had begun in December 1974, when the North Vietnamese had launched a major attack against the lightly defended province of Phuoc Long, located due north of Saigon along the Cambodian border, overrunning the provincial capital at Phuoc Binh on January 6, 1975. Despite previous presidential promises to provide aid in such a scenario, the United States did nothing. By this time, Nixon had resigned from office and his successor, Gerald Ford, was unable to convince a hostile Congress to make good on Nixon’s earlier promises to rescue Saigon from communist takeover.
Where did the South Vietnamese abandon Pleiku and Kontum?
The South Vietnamese abandoned Pleiku and Kontum in the Highlands with very little fighting. Then Quang Tri, Hue, and Da Nang fell to the communist onslaught. The North Vietnamese continued to attack south along the coast toward Saigon, defeating the South Vietnamese forces at each encounter.
Who was the leader of the North Vietnamese in 1975?
By this time, Nixon had resigned from office and his successor, Gerald Ford, was unable to convince a hostile Congress to make good on Nixon’s earlier promises to rescue Saigon from communist takeover. This situation emboldened the North Vietnamese, who launched a new campaign in March 1975.
Who led the Vietnamese army during the Vietnam War?
General Giap led the Vietnamese army during the Vietnam War. Q: What was the result of Giaps actions against the French? General Giap eventually won against the French. Q: Why did General Giap join the war against the French? General
What was the North Vietnamese war like in 1970?
In January of 1970, the war in Vietnam was going badly for the North Vietnamese; the South Vietnamese forces had recently launched an offensive in the Central Highlands, but the North Vietnamese knew that victory was within their grasp. On December 8th of that year, the North Vietnamese Politburo met to discuss the next steps to take. Ho Chi Minh, the Minister of the Interior, spoke first: “When we are close to victory, we can relax a bit.” The leaders agreed. The next day, the Politburo met again and approved the plan to pause the offensive. The North Vietnamese were close to victory. The National Liberation Front began to negotiate with the South Vietnamese government for a ceasefire.
How many men did Giap tell the French that the Vietnamese were willing to lose against them?
Giap told the French that the Vietnamese were willing to lose 100,000 men against them. Q: How many men did Hanoi tell the French they were willing to lose against them in the war? Hanoi told the French that they were willing to lose 1,
What happened after the Tet Offensive?
After the Tet Offensive of 1968, the North Vietnamese government was convinced it could win the war and claim victory. The Tet Offensive was a turning point in the war, and after the victory was long over, the North Vietnamese government took the chance to declare victory and claim victory. In January 1971, the North Vietnamese government—in an interview with the New York Times—said, “In the very near future the Vietnamese people will have the opportunity to renew the life of the entire world in a new way, to start all over again, to build a new world…”
When did Japan surrender?
When Japan surrendered in August 1945, into the vacuum stepped the Viet Minh. Ho Chi Minh’s guerrillas hadn’t accomplished much, according to Bernard Fall, the most famous historian of the Indochina war:
What happened in March 1945?
In March of 1945, and just five months before surrendering to the Allies, Japan did something with profound consequences: it conquered Vietnam—and ultimately embroiled the United States in its first lost war.
What was the role of the Office of Strategic Services in the Pacific War?
In 1945, the Office of Strategic Services—America’s pre-CIA—even sent a team into Indochina to work with the Viet Minh, and Ho Chi Minh offered to provide intelligence to the Americans. Indochina remained a backwater to the Pacific War until March 1945, when Japan put an end to the French puppet regime.
What happened in Southeast Asia in 1946?
By March 1946, the British were gone and the French were in open warfare against the Communists. For the next twenty years, Southeast Asia would be embroiled in war.
How many troops did France have in Indochina?
With just seventy thousand troops, fifteen modern fighter planes and a handful of tanks, French Indochina was in no position to refuse. But with a resolve that would have better employed fighting the Germans, the French refused to comply. Japan responded with a quick but violent amphibious invasion, backed by warships and aircraft that cost the French army a thousand dead. By the end of September, France had agreed to allow Japan station several thousand troops and deploy aircraft on Indochinese airfields (it was from these airfields that Japanese torpedo bombers sunk the British battleships Prince of Wales and Repulse on December 10, 1941).
What was the only pro-Allied movement after the French collapse?
But the fact remains that, after the collapse of the French, the Viet-Minh were the only pro-Allied movement of any consequence in the country. . . .
When did the British invade Indochina?
While the Viet Minh and other revolutionaries occupied key cities like Saigon, British troops landed in Indochina in September 1945. The British armed some French soldiers captured by the Japanese—and even retained armed Japanese soldiers to keep the natives under control. Sporadic clashes erupted between the British and Viet Minh, with the Viet Minh losing badly, while French forces reasserted the colonial regime. By March 1946, the British were gone and the French were in open warfare against the Communists.
When did the Americans leave Vietnam?
On April 30, 1975, the last few Americans still in South Vietnam were airlifted out of the country as Saigon fell to communist forces. North Vietnamese Colonel Bui Tin, accepting the surrender of South Vietnam later in the day, remarked, “You have nothing to fear; between Vietnamese there are no victors and no vanquished. Only the Americans have been defeated.” The Vietnam War was the longest and most unpopular foreign war in U.S. history and cost 58,000 American lives. As many as two million Vietnamese soldiers and civilians were killed.
What was the first military intervention in Vietnam?
President John F. Kennedy sent the first large force of U.S. military personnel to Vietnam to bolster the ineffectual autocratic regime of South Vietnam against the communist North. Three years later, with the South Vietnamese government crumbling, President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered limited bombing raids on North Vietnam, and Congress authorized the use of U.S. troops. By 1965, North Vietnamese offensives left President Johnson with two choices: escalate U.S. involvement or withdraw. Johnson ordered the former, and troop levels soon jumped to more than 300,000 as U.S. air forces commenced the largest bombing campaign in history.
Who was the platoon leader who killed Vietnamese civilians?
Lt. William L. Calley is found guilty of premeditated murder at My Lai by a U.S. Army court-martial at Fort Benning, Georgia. Calley, a platoon leader, had led his men in a massacre of Vietnamese civilians, including women and children, at My Lai 4, a cluster of hamlets in Quang ...read more
Overview
Vietnamization, 1969–73
Timeline
- Finally, in January 1973, representatives of the United States, North and South Vietnam, and the Vietcong signed a peace agreement in Paris, ending the direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War. Its key provisions included a cease-fire throughout Vietnam, the withdrawal of U.S. forces, the release of prisoners of war, and the reunificatio...
Under the Kennedy Administration
Americanization
Richard Nixon had campaigned in the 1968 presidential election under the slogan that he would end the war in Vietnam and bring "peace with honor". However, there was no plan to do this, and the American commitment continued for another five years. The goal of the American military effort was to buy time, gradually building up the strength of the South Vietnamese armed forces, and …
Morale and drug usage
• 1913 - Woodrow Wilson ignores petition by Ho Chi Minh for help in creating Vietnam independent from French rule and led by nationalist government.
• 1941 - Franklin D. Roosevelt declines repeated requests from the French to assist France's attempts to recolonize Vietnam.
See also
In 1961, the new administration of President John F. Kennedy took a new approach to aiding anti-communist forces in Vietnam which differed from the administrations of Presidents Truman and Eisenhower, who felt the neighboring country Laos was the "cork in the bottle" in combating the threat of Communism in southeast Asia. During 1961, his first year in office, Kennedy assigned $28.4M to the enlargement of the South Vietnamese army and $12.7M to enhance the civil guar…
External links
On July 27, 1964, 5,000 additional U.S. military advisers were ordered to the Republic of Vietnam (RVN or South Vietnam), bringing the total American troop level to 21,000. Shortly thereafter an incident occurred off the coast of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) that was destined to escalate the conflict to new levels and lead to the full scale Americanization of the war.