Dien Bien Phu Logistics Never Underestimate the Capabilities of Your Enemy! Never Overestimate Your Capabilities…

Overview Action: Last major battle in the First Indochina War between the military forces of France and Vietnamese revolutionary forces called the Viet Minh Date: March 13 – May 7, 1954 Location: Vicinity of Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam Result: Decisive Vietnamese victory Importance: the first time that a non-European colonial independence movement had evolved through all the stages from guerrilla bands to a conventionally organized and equipped army able to defeat a modern Western occupier in pitched battle

Location of Dien Bien Phu Hanoi Dien Bien Phu Dien Bien Phu, in Dien Bien Province (shown in green) was sufficiently far from Hanoi, the seat of French military power, that French air transport could not easily keep it supplied

The Plan

Situation French took up positions on a series of fortified hills The French disposition at Dien Bien Phu, as of March 1954 Huguette Claudine 304 XX 316 XX 351 XX 312 XX 308 XX Airstrip Nam Yum River Southernmost position, Isabelle, was dangerously isolated Viet Minh positioned their 5 divisions (the 304th, 308th, 312th, 316th, and 351st) in the surrounding areas to the north and east Viet Minh had a clear line of sight on the French fortifications and were able to accurately rain down artillery on the French positions Ann-Marie Beatrice Gabriella Dominique Elaine Isabelle

French Positions at Dien Bien Phu The central French positions at Dien Bien Phu as of late March The positions in Eliane saw some of the most intense combat of the entire battle 316 XX 312 XX 308 XX