It is an undated pirate edition printed by the us air force academy of vo nguyen giap s account of the vietnameses stunning and historic victory over the french in 1954. Reflections on general giap and the end of an era in. And we learn that as commander of the assault on dien bien phu, giap faced a difficult decision. Information agency correspondent visited the isolated fre. We learn details like the fact that giap traveled on horseback or in a captured army jeep and that he had great affection for the natural beauty of his country. The schoolteacherturned general, who had learned his craft from books and in the bush, had shown audacity and flexibility, as well as a. Oct 04, 20 general vo nguyen giap, who has aged 102, was the diminutive and brilliant vietnamese general who led communist forces in the wars that forced three powerful adversaries japan, france and.
General giap commanded 8 major campaigns during the war of resistance against french colonialists, the most. Battle of dien bien phu1954 general vo nguyen giap saw. However, instead of making a massive frontal assault, giap choose to surround dien bien phu and ordered his men. Oct 04, 20 general vo nguyen giap in 1994, the 40th anniversary of the defeat of the french at dien bien phu.
General giap was a patriot who loved his country and, like good patriots, wanted it to be better than it was, knowing full well that his wish was within the realm of possibility. He also sent heavy artillery and antiaircraft weaponry. In a rare interview, he recalls his part in defying the might of. French, particularly at dien bien phu, his authority in military matters is limited by few of the restrictions with which his opponents have had to contend.
Dien bien phu was effectively at the bottom of a valley and giaps men controlled all the surrounding area. In a rare interview with the author of a book about the trail, he recalls his. General giap, 71 years old, visited dien bien phu this week to oversee arrangements for the 30th anniversary of the battle, judged by some historians as among the. In 1954, the viet minh army, under general vo nguyen giap, moved against dien bien phu and in march encircled it with 40,000 communist troops and heavy. The battle of dien bien phu 19531954, stresses the author, was one of the modern eras most decisive confrontations. General vo nguyen giap was the nlfs most senior military commander in the vietnam war. Battle of dien bien phu, the decisive engagement in the first indochina war 194654. General giap made many key decisions which changed the balance on the battlefield, leading to the resounding dien bien phu victory. The battle of dien bien phu was a climactic confrontation of the first indochina war that took place between march and 7 may 1954. Aug 28, 2017 17 kilometres east of dien bien phu are the remains of general giap s viet minh headquarters from which led the successful battle against the french.
Dien bien phu by vo nguyen giap goodreads share book. Giap s signature victory at dien bien phu came to a conclusion following an eightweek bombardment, encirclement and gradual closing of the vietnamese ring around the,000 french troops. This command post had been set up as early as december 7th, 1953. As these actions took place giap sent troops to lai chau. Books by vo nguyen giap author of peoples war peoples army. General giaps memoirs comprise the most interesting portion of the book. The power that the vietminh held shocked the french. At dien bien phu, the viet minh controlled the high ground around the base and were able to drag their artillery up the high slopes surrounding the complex, much to the frenchs surprise. Its a bitch to get through because you have to learn. When the battle at dien bien phu began, the french artillery commander committed suicide as a result of his inability to hit giaps artillery. Vo nguyen giap has 32 books on goodreads with 1162 ratings. Senior general vo nguyen giap was, and is, the only pavn figure known at all well outside of vietnam, the only pavn general mentioned in most counts of the vietnam war, and the only vietnamese communist military leader about whom a full length biography has been written.
Was the victory of dien bien phu totally due to the genius. It was, from the french view before the event, a set piece battle to draw out the vietnamese and destroy them with superior firepower. Reflections on the passing of general giap and the end of. The battle of dien bien phu was the climactic confrontation of the first indochina war between the french unions french far east expeditionary corps and viet minh communistnationalist revolutionaries. Oct 22, 2014 a visit to the bunker from which famed vietnamese general, vo nguyen giap, led viet minh troops against french colonial forces in the 1954 battle of dien bien phu. The general s first stop was at tham pua cave km 15, tuan giaodien bien phu road. With the dien bien phu victory in 1954, general giap had realized president ho chi minhs military and political philosophy who said nothing is more precious than independence and freedom. When the results justified the sacrifice, as at dien bien phu, giap pressed for a victory. John keegan was a consulting editor to the multiple volume series ballantines illustrated history of the violent century in the 1970s. We got enough for each kid and their carer mother or aunty as a treat. The general upheld ho chi minh thought with an unyielding spirit.
Vietnam war a memoir bio of general vo nguyen giap. His victory over the french at dien bien phu is wellknown, as is his prosecution of the war against the americans to a successful conclusion in 1975. The battle of dien bien phu was the decisive engagement in the first indochina war 194654. In 1954, french general henri navarre decided to settle in dien bien phu, in order to protect laos. Headquarters of the dien bien phu campaign in muong phang. The entire idea of the defense centered around the hedgehog concept, a flawed strateg.
The disparity between general giap and the othersthe lone figure standing in the forefront of a legion of shadowy. This collection includes the major writings of general giap, who, on the evidence of. It is january 24, 1954, as you assume the role of general vo nguyen giap, commander of the military forces of the viet minh, the vietnamese communist independence movement led by ho chi minh that seeks to overthrow french colonial rule. Vo nguyen giap is the vietnamese general who planned the ho chi minh trail and defeated the french at dien bien phu. The viet minh victory in this battle effectively ended the eightyearold war. The following year, the important battle of dien bien phu was fought between the vi. General vo nguyen giap was the nlfs most senior military commander in thevietnam war.
It is located in the muong thanh valley in a heart shape, a 20 km long and 6 km wide valley. Colonel piroth, the artillery commander, blamed himself for the destruction of french artillery superiority. The vietnamese victory at dien bien phu in may 1954, with the killing or capturing of over 16,000 enemy forces, sealed the defeat of french colonialism in indochina. The book includes writings from the 1940s to the end of the 1960s and is. To the fighters on the dien bien phu battlefront dear officers and men on the dien bien phu battlefront. General vo nguyen giap, chief architect and strategist of the peoples army of vietnam pavn, had succeeded brilliantly in dispersing. It is remarkable that this is the place where vietnamese people defeated the french colonist with the great victory of dien bien phu.
On january 5th, 1954, general vo nguyen giap, commanderinchief of the dien bien phu campaign and head of the chinese consultants group wei quojing left for tay bac. Vo nguyen giap, the vietnamese general who planned the ho chi minh trail and defeated the french at dien bien phu, turns 95 today. General vo nguyen giap tomb quang binh vietnam, place to. The battle of dien bien phu was a climactic confrontation of the first indochina war that took. He later commanded the vietnam peoples army during the vietnam war.
I will hire a car, and i would like to know how long it takes from dien bien phu to muong phang by car. On the way leading to the tomb, there are 103step staircase, 103 apricot trees and 103 phanera variegate trees representing the general s 103 year olds. He also contributed several titles to the series, one of which was dien bien phu published in 1974 by random house. In contrast, the viet minh issued clear, short orders aimed at wiping out the french garrison at dien bien phu. Oct 07, 20 the french, then the americans, tried to defeat him but failed. Looking back into the 20 th century, vo nguyen giap is a name that must be mentioned. At the same time, he also was able to objectively cover general giap s viewpoint of the vietminh. Employing the guerrilla tactics of chinas mao zedong, giap s army won control of large areas of northern and central vietnam. When the vietminh, under the command of general vo nguyen giap b.
Vietnamese general behind victories over french and us. The general who defeated america in vietnam by james. Dec 25, 2016 hardly, the viet minh won just as anyone who fought the french has, they let the french fuckup. Navarre surmised that in an attempt to reestablish the route to laos, general giap would be forced to organise a massattack on the french forces at dien bien phu.
The battle able to return honour to the french army, the battle to show proudly to a warweary public opinion, the battle which had to be won at any cost to allow france to negotiate peace from a strength position, has come into a. If youre interested in really finding out how general giap masterminded the military victory in vietnam, this book isnt going to answer the question. Vo nguyen giap was born in quang binh province, central annam, in 1912. General giap was also the victor in what americans call the. On the last evening in dien bien phu, nev and i decided to buy about fresh big bread rolls from a local bakery run by a old matriarch who keeps here sons under tight control mind you. The viet minh, however, under general vo nguyen giap, surrounded and besieged the french. As a result of blunders in french decisionmaking, however, the french began an operation to insert, then support. Vo nguyen giap, born 1912, an xa, vietnamdied october 4, 20, hanoi, vietnamese military and political leader whose perfection of guerrilla as well as conventional strategy and tactics led to the viet minh victory over the french and to the end of french colonialism in southeast asia and later to the north vietnamese victory over south. General vo nguyen giap at dien bien phu stories and history. The battle of dien bien phu was fought from march to may 7, 1954, and was the decisive engagement of the first indochina war 19461954, the precursor to the vietnam war. Dien bien phu vo nguyen giap foreign languages pub.
This autumnwinter, you are assigned the taslc of marching to dien bien phu to wipe out more enemy effectives, extend our resistance bases, and liberate more compatriots still under the enemys oppression. Vo nguyen giap rose from obscurity to create the army that helped make. The general paid a visit to dien bien phu battlefield in 2004. Giap proved to be a worthy opponent to the americans. Dien bien phu share book recommendations with your. General vo nguyen giap was the commander in chief of the communist armed forces during two of his countrys most difficult conflictsthe first against vietnams colonial masters, the french, and the second against the most powerful nation on earth, the united states. Photo courtesy of hanois museum of dien bien phu victory. It consisted of a struggle between french and viet minh vietnamese communist and nationalist forces for control of a small mountain outpost on the vietnamese border near laos. However the reader would like to have fuller information. Dien bien phu remains the victory for which gen giap is best known. All the paras with the exception of the 2 battalions of my group were relieved by airborne infantry units from the. Around the 30th anniversary of the fall of dien bien phu, they had put a picture in the newspaper of. Dien bien phu vo nguyen giap national library of australia.
In a rare interview with the author of a book about the trail, he recalls his part in defying the might of the us military. Both the journey out and the historical sight are highlights of a visit to the area. The vietnamese people in general tend to be optimistic. Oct 04, 20 vo nguyen giap masterminded battle of dien bien phu, which led to france leaving indochina, and commanded norths forces in vietnam war. Vo nguyen giap, born 1912, an xa, vietnamdied october 4, 20, hanoi, vietnamese military and political leader whose perfection of guerrilla as well as conventional strategy and tactics led to the viet minh victory over the french and to the end of french colonialism in southeast asia and later to the north vietnamese victory over south vietnam and the united states. Vo nguyen giap was instrumental in the expansion and development of the north vietnamese army nva during the vietnam war. General giap had the advantage of issuing orders and carrying them out himself as he. Dien bien phu, rendezvous with history by vo nguyen giap. Nguyen giap on the occasion of the fourth anniver sary of the dien bien phu victory. As a commander, giap was willing to mix his tactics between classic guerrilla warfare and conventional attacks as was seen in the 1968 tet offensive. General giap command post, muong phang, dien bien phu vietnam.
General vo nguyen giap obituary world news the guardian. It was an epic battle in a tragic war and most people neither know or care what happened in the valley where a small border post named dien bien phu became synonymous with forgotten sacrifice. Vo nguyen giap is considered one of the greatest military strategists of the 20th century. For 54 days, the viet minh seized position after position, pushing the french until they occupied only a small area of dien bien phu.
Dien bien phu by general vo nguyen giap reading for. Til that the battle of dien bien phu fought by the french against the vietnamese was the only pitched battle to be lost by a european army in the history of decolonisation and it cost the french their empire. In 1954, french forces in french indochina sought to cut the viet minhs supply lines to laos. General vo nguyen giap 2nd, r and other commanding officers discuss dien bien phu plans in 1954. His tactics and intrepid planning led to the french defeat at dien bien phu in may 1954. General vo nguyen giap, commander of the north vietnamese army, wrote in his memoirs that his army was on the brink of collapse, but the u. Dien bien phu is recognized as one of historys great battles. Battle of dien bien phu 1954 general vo nguyen giap saw french aircraft wreckage shot down beside muong thanh bridge. Buku yang menarik dari sudut pandang seorang vo nguyen giap. Catherine karnowcorbis giap s political timidity came as a crushing disappointment. Armstrong it is january 24, 1954, as you assume the role of general vo nguyen giap, commander of the military forces of the viet minh, the vietnamese communist independence movement led by ho chi minh that seeks to overthrow french colonial rule. As general fay had foreseen, dien bien phu has turned in a deadly trap.
On christmas day 1953, indochina, for the first time in the eightyear war, was literally cut in two. He stood out from the rest of the communist leadership. Straight out of the gate the idea of dien bien phu was flawed. Complete with detailed accounts, maps, and photos, giap s memoirs depicts concretely how a small and weak nation can overcome a stronger force. Vo nguyen giaps most popular book is victory at any cost. In december 1953 french paratroopers, who had been searching for the elusive vietnamese army, were quickly isolated by them and forced to retreat into their. Navarres plan worked and general giap took up the french challenge. Dien bien phu by general vo nguyen giap reading for history 463 vo nguyen giap on. Battle of dien bien phu military history oxford bibliographies. General vo nguyen giap s regular 10,000man divisions blocked the dien bien phu garrison, while a third bypassed dien bien phu and smashed deep into laos. General giap cites lessonsof dien bien phu the new. Giap was the deputy prime minister of vietnam from 1955 to 1991. Til that the battle of dien bien phu fought by the french.
Was the victory of dien bien phu totally due to the genius of. It was fought between the french unions french far east expeditionary corps and viet minh communist revolutionaries. Giap had time to dig in and camouflage where his artillery was. Dien bien phutranslated at no cost by al gaudet a qog membermeans at hand were set up progressively during december and january. Dien bien phu spanish paperback 2015 by vo nguyen giap author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. History, written by wacsomous general vo nguyen giap, may be the best book for wmderstanding the famous battle in 1954, which became the death knell for colonialism. Vo nguyen giap was a general in the vietnam peoples army and a politician. The battle of dien bien phu is the detailed setting particularly the air transport units for book iv quiang in the series of novels. Vo nguyen giap 1911 20 was the first general of viet nam peoples armed forces, commanderinchief of dien bien phu campaign 1954. After dien bien phu, general giap came to symbolize vietnamese military prowess to the west. Dien bien phu battle in dien bien phu, vietnam in may, the vietminh storming hill. After french forces occupied the dien bien phu valley in. For more information about this and related ideas, see my books.
Hello, i have a short stay in dien bien phu, and i would like to go to the headquarters of the dien bien phu campaign in muong phang. Instead, giap takes the opportunity simply to reinforce the stated political positions of the vietnamese communist movement in book form in a way thats not particular original or wellwritten. General vo nguyen giap and majo general tran dai nghia, head of the military weapon. Dien bien phu town is of special interest for fans of military history. Your objective in war can either be to wipe out the enemy altogether or to leave their forces partly intact but their will to fight destroyed. Dien bien phu the great victory viva general giap youtube. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. This led to a troop increase by 10,800 including artillery and tanks. It was at dien bien phu that reputations would be made and lost, and where the legend of general vo nguyen giap, one of the great military figures of our time, was born.
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