1. Post-War Settlement 1945-1954 1945: Japan was defeated in WWII, withdrew from SE Asia September 1945 Ho Chi Minh announced Vietnam was an independent and democratic republic.(TXT)(TXT) The French attempted to re- establish their empire and took back control of the south Vietminh continued to fight for full independence and a united Vietnam 1954 Viet Minh siege of Dien Bien Phu French surrendered In May 1954, Britain, France, China, the Soviet Union, the USA and Vietnam met in Geneva to decide the future of Vietnam The Geneva Agreement (TXT)(TXT) Ho Chi Minh Trail

2. 1954-1956: USA give backing to South Vietnamese leader Ngo Dinh Diem 1955 Diem (supported by USA) was officially elected president of South Vietnam in rigged elections Diem was a dictator. He was a Catholic and persecuted the Buddhist majority. Land was taken from peasants and given to Diem’s supporters 1956: Diem refused to allow elections to re-unite North and South Vietnam.

3. 1957 to 1965 Struggle in Vietnam between the South Vietnamese army (ARVN) and the communist- trained rebels (also known as the Viet Cong) (CAPS p26) (During this phase the USA sent money, military equipment and ‘advisors’ to support to the South Vietnam government but had not yet committed US combat troops to fight in Vietnam.)

4. Growing opposition to Diem’s government from within South Vietnam 1959: Vietminh (North Vietnam Communists) supporters in South Vietnam formed the National Liberation Front (or Viet Cong) – used guerrilla tactics(txt) against ARVN.(txt) 1960: Diem (with CIA support) forcibly relocated whole villages thought to be supportive of Viet Cong into ‘Strategic Hamlets’ (enclosed by ditches, barbed wires and under 24hr guard) USA supported South Vietnamese government Army (ARVN) by dollar aid and air support + backed up with counter-insurgency forces (USA’s Green Beret’s) + USA sent more ‘advisors’ (another 15,000) in operation ‘beef-up’ (!)