The Vietnam War in 10 Steps

The Vietnam War (Second Indochina War) took place between 1955-1965, between the Soviet Union, which led the Eastern Block, and the US forces, which led the Western Bloc. The region called Indochina (today Thailand) is the region that includes the Malaysian Peninsula, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Indochina, a British and French colony, was ruled by II. It came under the rule of Japan during the World War. Japan realized that it would be the defeated side in this war and prepared the ground for nationalist uprisings in the region. As a result of these uprisings, the states of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam were established here. Vietnam was ruled by Emperor Bao Dai.

1- Communism in China

By 1945, the British and the French re-entered the region. Wanting to benefit from the strong French sympathies in the region, France fought against the communism that spread from the Soviet Union and China in this region.

2- Dividing Vietnam

Communism that spread throughout the region after France's withdrawal from Vietnam caused chaos in Vietnam. As a result of the conflict between communists and nationalists in Vietnam, the United Nations decided to divide Vietnam into two separate regions as North and South Vietnam.

3- North and South Vietnamese supporters

North Vietnam was ruled by the communist regime and its ruler was Ho Chi Minh. The two biggest supporters of North Vietnam were Soviet Russia and China, which were ruled by the communist regime like him. South Vietnam was supported by the USA. In this period, we see that the power of the USA, not France, was effective in the region. The US found South Vietnam, strategically located in Southeast Asia, in its own interests and therefore supported South Vietnam in every way.

4- Geneva Treaty

When the dates showed 1955, the Bao Dai administration was overthrown and the administration of Ngo Dinh Diem was established. Diem was a very powerful anti-communist and was very good with the US because of this feature. According to the Geneva Treaty, with the referendum to be held in 1956, North Vietnam and South Vietnam would unite.

5- Ngo Dinh Diem and Ho Çhi Minh

North Vietnam Leader Ho Chhi Minh wanted to capture all of Vietnam and establish the communist regime in the entire region. Therefore, South Vietnam was looking for ways to overthrow the government. As of 1957, he started terrorist activities in South Vietnam.

6- The war is beginning

The United States decided to provide military aid to South Vietnam in order to prevent the communist rule from dominating the region in the face of terrorist activities of North Vietnam in South Vietnam. Thus, the USA sent hundreds of thousands of soldiers to the region. The war, fought by both sides, was very difficult.

7- The War Continues

While the US soldiers threw the Vietcongs they captured alive from helicopters, the Vietcon also applied various tortures against the American soldiers. The Napalm Bomb bomb used by America in this war caused great reactions and its use was banned later.

8- 21 Years of War

In 1975, North Vietnam, which took over the region called Buon Ma Thuot, got stronger and managed to enter the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon on April 30. This war continued for 21 years with the ebb and flow of millions of people, but Vietnam was not divided as the foreign countries wanted.

9- Balance Sheet of the War

Almost four million civilians and more than one million communists from the North and South Vietnamese sides were killed in the war that lasted for 21 years in total. The Americans lost 58,000 soldiers and some of the survivors committed suicide.

10- Vietnam's Reunification

Contrary to what was expected, the Soviet-Chinese relations deteriorated further, and this process accelerated the entry into the Softening Period. The USA could not realize its idea of ​​dividing Vietnam; North Vietnam and South Vietnam were united in 1975. Today, Vietnam is called the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and is ruled by the socialist regime.