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Role The Battle Of Dien Essay

The intelligence, from allegedly captured Vietminh radio messages, stated that the Vietminh forces were shaken by the strike and refusing to follow orders (Dien Bien Phu, ¶11). The conclusion was later made, that the Vietminh had sent the messages to catch the French off guard and boost their confidence. By the 22nd of April, the Vietminh had captured the entire air strip and all parachute drops were brought to a halt by the Vietminh. The battle became a battle of who could hold out the longest and all French attacks failed to have much or any success.

The French made some ground with the huge attacks on both the 1st and 6th of May; but on the 7th of May, Vietminh General Giap ordered a full scale attack of the stronghold, sending in almost all of his troops at once. A French radio transmission received at this time from the stronghold declared, "the Viets are everywhere. The situation is very grave. I feel the end is approaching but we will fight to the finish" (Dien Bien Phu, ¶13). The stronghold and all equipment in the camp were blown up by the French and the French surrounded at nightfall.

The Vietminh forces suffered 8000 casualties and 12,000 wounded during the 54 day battle. The French casualties totaled 7000 and another 11000 soldiers became prisoners of the Vietminh.

Conclusion

The French defeat, in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, lead to the withdrawal of the French from the Vietnam country and split the country into two individual...

The Geneva Accords divided the Country of Vietnam at the 17th Parallel into the democratic influenced South Vietnam and the Communist influenced North Vietnam lead by Ho Chi Minh. Ho Chi Minh was driven by his passion to see the Vietnam country as a single entity and free of foreign rule.
The consequences, of the Vietminh victory, were the end of the foreign rule and set the stage for the Vietnamese War. The Vietminh gained vast experience in the art of guerilla warfare from the battles with the Japanese and the French, which helped them in the Vietnam War. The Vietminh could pursue the South Vietnam country and defeat them to unite trhe two countries.

A fair assessment would be that the Battle of Dien Bien Phu set in place the processes needed to accomplish the goal of Ho Chi Minh to see the nation of Vietnam as a single entity. Even though it is not one of the most significant world battles in terms of the world wars, it was a very comparative battle in terms of major and decisive battles. The two countries became united shortly after the death of Ho Chi Minh.

Works Cited

Dien Bien Phu. History Learning Site. 2010. Web 14 June 2010.

Fall, B. Battle of Dien Bien Phu. Vietnam. April 2004. Web 14 June 2010.

Roy, J. The Battle of Dien Bien Phu. 2010. Web 14 June 2010.

Skochdopole, M. The first Indochina War: Attack at Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam. 2010.

Web 14 June 2010.

Battle of Dien Bien Phu. 2010.

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Dien Bien Phu. History Learning Site. 2010. Web 14 June 2010.

<http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/dien_bien_phu.htm>

Fall, B. Battle of Dien Bien Phu. Vietnam. April 2004. Web 14 June 2010.

<http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-dien-bien-phu.htm>

Web 14 June 2010. <http://www.coldwar.org/articles/50s/thefirstindochinawarattackatdienbienphuvietnam.asp>
Battle of Dien Bien Phu. 2010. <http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-dien-bien-phu.htm>
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