Indochinese war for independence after WW2 Indochina was divided into North- and South Vietnam and gained independence along with Cambodia and Laos

Temporary partition, north and south The Geneva Convention, northern vietnamese fled southwards The domino theory, communism Insurgency in the South National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (NLF)

John F. Kenedy won election in the US South Vietnam needs military help More frequent attacks from the north The Ho Chi Minh trail (supply route) The Green Beret was sent in

USS Maddox attacked by torpedoes US outnumbered, 1/10 Operation Rolling Thunder, 1965-69 Bombed back to the Stone Age 1965, 3,500 US Marines were dispatched to the south Defense, 200,000 by Dec. Shake ’n’ Bake soldiers No where safe for Americans

Most toxic dioxin available (Agent Orange), 75,700,000 liters sprayed PAVN/NLF hidden under triple-canopy jungle Completely removes foliage In 2006, 4,000,000 victims of dioxin poisoning in Vietnam

80.000 troops struck more than 100 cities and military objectives The Offensive was a great defeat Started the anti-war movement in USA

President Nixon started cutting down on the number of troops in Vietnam Was caused by low morale among the troops and lack of support in the USA The Army was replaced by the ”Vietnamization” groups

Final large scale offensive The goal was to defeat the South Vietnamese forces and force the surrender of the goverment The Fall of Saigon in 1975 marked the end of the war

US defeat, political? Third Indochina War, 1979 Communist takeover, 2 mio. civilians fled US turned their back to the marines No aid for veterans suffering mental or physical disabilities, turned to begging or crime