| Tango01 | 27 May 2020 10:33 p.m. PST |
….colonial rule in Vietnam "Dien Bien Phu: three words that in France are still synonymous with a symbolic defeat. On 7 May 1954, after 57 days and nights of fierce fighting between Viet Minh troops and members of the French expeditionary force, the insurgents finally prevailed. As historian Jean-Pierre Rioux noted, this was "the only pitched battle to be lost by a European army in the history of decolonisation" and it signalled the beginning of the end for France's empire. The victory by the soldiers of Ho Chi Minh would weigh on the Geneva negotiations, at the end of which, on 21 July 1954, the French prime minister Pierre Mendès-France signed the agreement ending the first war in Indochina. It had lasted eight years, leaving 3,420 killed and 5,300 wounded among the French, and many more among the Viet Minh…"
Main page link Amicalement
Armand |
 deadhead  | 28 May 2020 3:10 a.m. PST |
Best thing about this article is the coverage of how DBP has changed over the decades. It is now a built up area, with the legendary hill outposts all unrecognisable it appears. The oblivion of the title probably applies more now than then! Interesting find Tango, thanks |
 Legion 4  | 28 May 2020 8:31 a.m. PST |
I didn't know the DBP area is now built up. Hopefully there are some sort of historical markers, etc., placed in certain areas. I have often thought what has happened to all the French grave yards, etc.? That were through out the former French Indochina … |
 Dan Cyr | 28 May 2020 8:50 a.m. PST |
Interesting. My father was stationed in Hanoi at the time as a member of the US Army supporting the French (I still have his copy of the telegram sent to Hanoi to inform him that I'd been born) and was good friends with many of the US pilots flying the resupply and para drop missions to DBP. |
| Tango01 | 28 May 2020 11:44 a.m. PST |
A votre service mes amis!. (smile)
Amicalement
Armand
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| Legion 4 | 29 May 2020 9:11 a.m. PST |
The US strongly supported the French in Indochina in a number of ways. As it was another war against the Communists. That stated before the Korean War by a few years. The French even sent some troops to support the UN effort vs. the North and PRC. |
| Blutarski | 29 May 2020 5:09 p.m. PST |
Bernard Fall, in his book "Street without Joy", made some very profound observations about the cost (both direct and indirect) of the Indochina War to France Well worth reading. B |
| Legion 4 | 30 May 2020 10:00 a.m. PST |
Read it … highly recommend it … |
| catavar | 07 Jun 2020 7:41 p.m. PST |
I believe the French were looking for a settlement even before the battle and afterwards they retained control of the south. They still had a sizable military presence in Indochina, as well as other places like Algeria, so while DBP may have accelerated the process it didn't end French imperialism in my opinion. |
| Blutarski | 08 Jun 2020 9:10 p.m. PST |
Another very heavy blow to the French in Indochina was the destruction of the elite Groupement Mobile 100 in a series of large-scale ambushes in the Central Highlands IIRC. Once again – Bernard Fall writes of this in "Street Without Joy"
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| Tango01 | 08 Jun 2020 10:39 p.m. PST |
Thanks!. Amicalement
Armand |
explores another variant in the European Buildings range.