Indochina and The Battle of Dien Bien Phu

[@perihelion7798]

History is an interconnected spider web of events, and not a series of isolated occurrences. This channel clearly show that, and is why I like it so much.

[@dougearnest7590]

More like a jigsaw puzzle, actually.

[@perihelion7798]

@@dougearnest7590 : True, also. With missing pieces, no less.

[@creampuff5036]

Which is why the view that America and the "international forces of freedom" lost in Viet Nam is a farce. The effort in Viet Nam was forfeited in the interests of Globalization. The ultimate tribute of servicemen/woman to society, in this case aptly demonstrated by the visual , where society is built on top of soldiers graves.

[@wdtaut5650]

I knew a man who lived all this. First, a German paratrooper captured by U.S. troops in Italy, after WWII joined the French Foreign Legion, went from Algeria to Viet Nam, was taken prisoner at Dien Bien Phu, finally, emigrated to the U.S. History in the flesh.

[@lasdepique4805]

Viet nam to algeria

[@toetag3480]

There s a really good book i enjoyed,called "the devils guard",authors name eludes me,Its about Germans in the Legion and serving in Vietnam,real good read.

[@toetag3480]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_Guard

[@panzer-head]

Absolutely no tangible proof the French Foreign Legion recruited former members of the Waffen SS. This is a romantic myth that refuses to die. You must consider that at the end of WW2, Free French troops executed every SS trooper they captured. So to think they would welcome former blood enemies into their ranks no questions asked defies belief. Also, the SS was declared a criminal organization at Nuremberg, again making it highly unlikely former SS soldiers would be allowed. Finally, no contemporary French accounts exist proving there were SS or Wehrmacht troops in Indochina.

[@MegaPeedee]

As a Vietnam War veteran I am pleased to see an accurate description of the causes and events. There is so much misinformation floating around that too many people have the wrong ideas.

[@georgeb8701]

MegaPeeDee >>> wrong ideas in what regard ? U.S. NAVY vet here. Vietnam Era. No combat seen by virtue of my youth. 17yrs in '73

[@marianotorrespico2975]

@@georgeb8701 --- WELL, ONE WRONG IDEA WAS . . . that The Mel Brooks Incident in the Golf of Tonkin actually occurred; wherein Uncle Sam placed a gun to his own head and threatened to shoot the hostage if The Communists of Viet Nam did not give him a war of his own. What with the strategic and military insufficiencies of an eighty per cent participation in the French War to re-enslave the peoples of "Indochina", The Mel Brooks Incident SHOULD have happened. [sniff]

[@47ArmyGuy]

As a veteran of the Vietnam war I think it very important that you discuss the letters from Ho Chi Min to President Truman. Please

[@alleycatvietnam]

John Mulholland Agreed, the " History Professor" seems to pick and choose his responce ie my comment, Correction the Offical US Dead is 58,220. I am Veteran of The Republic of South Vietnam. December 1970-1971. 282nd Assault Helicopter Company Back Cats & Alley Cats, 3rd Platoon Alley Cats @ Marble Mountain Vietnam.I've returned 3 times 1998-2002-2006.

[@I_am_a_cat_]

@@alleycatvietnam proud of you

[@neeleyfolk]

Do you know of a book where this is discussed?

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

@@neeleyfolk You can read the letters in detail on the internet. I believe the National Archives has the photocopies and you can find the transcript elsewhere online easy enough. It is sad, there was a chance to convince one of these post-colonial leaders of the American way in much the same way the Soviets and Chinese were able to ingratiate themselves with other post-colonial governments. It's not like Ho Chi Minh was non-receptive, he went to the Americans first before going to the Socialists or Communists - he was rebuffed, and went to the only powerful force that could aid him in his independence struggle. We were too busy propping up the failing empires of our friends to see what those original OSS officers like Dewey and Archimedes Patti saw - an opportunity to forge a strong relationship with a charismatic and honest leader in the post-colonial world. By the time of the Second Indo-China conflict, Ho was reduced to a figurehead and the party he helped lead waged a brutal campaign of suppression within its confines, and a brutal campaign of insurgency outside.

[@LuvBorderCollies]

@@fuzzydunlop7928 I saw an interview with at least 2 of the OSS guys who worked with Ho. It was plain they were sorely frustrated because Ho could've been a US ally. They viewed him as a nationalist not a Communist. But Truman's attitude dynamited that idea and we know how it turned out down the road. So sad, it didn't have to happen.

[@zerodegrekelvin2]

As a Vietnamese expat, I have to applaud all the accuracy from your video about the first Indochina war and the second The Vietnam War. The American were against the colonialist French but needed France as allied in Europe, so the US paid for the war but did not intervene to lift the siege at Dien Bien Phu.

[@frzstat]

I watched this episode about a year after it was posted. The viewer/fan comments below are every bit as informative and entertaining as this excellent video!

[@araeagle3829]

"As the wheel of history turns" That could be your sign off phrase for each video. Thank you as always for your efforts.

[@aceroadholder2185]

History guy, I was told this story by co-worker in the 80's who was a German army veteran. He was held in a POW camp run by the British immediately after the war. Next door was a French run camp filled with Waffen SS soldiers. At role call every morning all the POWs would be in formation in their German uniforms and old units complete with their German NCO's who took the head count. The French treated the Waffen SS troops pretty roughly. But, after about a week, one morning the German troops all fell into formation with French uniforms and new rifles. The gates were opened and they marched out, rifles, old NCO's , and crisp new French uniforms. They marched over the to railway station where they boarded a train for L'Harve and transport to Indochina. As an aside, my friend was assigned duty of preparing German machinery for transport to Russia while a POW. He said they poured sand from the fire buckets into the machinery while their British guards sat and watched them do it. He said a British officer peered into some of the machinery and his only comment was "It could catch fire...it needs more sand."

[@victor-uranium]

Lol!

[@WoodSprite4ever]

People like you who share personal tidbits make me love the history guy even more ❤

[@lastspud7030]

They probably volunteered for service I the French Foreign Legion, it was pretty common to find former German soldiers in the Legion in the 50s

[@petermortimer6303]

I don't doubt that what you say is what that veteran told you and it is what he believed but the idea that there were huge numbers of ex SS fighting in French Indo China is simply not true and there never was a complete SS battalion. There would have been ex German soldiers there but not in big numbers.

[@aceroadholder2185]

@@petermortimer6303 I didn't doubt what he said he witnessed. He had volunteered for the Waffen SS in 1943 but was too short. He was drafted for the regular Army and was sent to the Eastern front. His brother was MIA there. He was fortunate his unit was pulled out of Poland in 1944 and was destined for the Western Front. He said they were disappointed at the Battle of the Bulge that they were in reserve and were not committed to the battle. When he retired he drew Social Security and a German pension for his war service.

[@ThePzrLdr]

Ho Chi Min's story needs to be told. I was interested in the Vietnam War because I had an uncle who volunteered for the USAF and did two tours in Saigon at the airbase there. I watched a silent film with "Uncle Ho" asking the allies at the Paris Peace Conference for Vietnam's independence. He was rebuffed which began the entire conflict. I was brought up to hate communism and yet "Uncle Ho" asked the Allies for help first, it only when he was rebuffed that he turned to Russia. My last job lasted 18 years before I retired. My boss for 15 of those years was from Vietnam were he grew up, survived and eventually escaped that war torn country as it collapsed. His stories were engaging to say the least and he explained so much about a war that we really know very little about. Vietnam was a civil war that tore families apart just like the civil war in the USA. He had family in the north of the country who joined the north's army. One such person was an uncle of his who became an intelligence officer in North Vietnam's army. It was a good 20 years after the war before he could return to his homeland to see relatives. One of these trips took him to see his uncle. The uncle asked him if he would like to meet General Giap, he said yes. The next day he was taken to the villa of the General. It's amazing how similar people are in what they want and yet seek different paths to accomplish the same goal. My boss harbor's no ill will towards his uncle nor General Giap, in fact he sees the General as a hero for his country and yet they were on different sides..... or were they? Same goal, different means. Tell Ho Chi Min's story from the starting point. The world needs to know the truth.

[@Babyinyourbedroom]

Thank you. Ho Chi Minh is our Founding Father. Without him, without Viet Minh, without the battle of Dien Bien Phu, nowadays Indochina would look like West Africa.

[@tomschmidt381]

Great overview, I'm a US Vietnam Vet so have spent a fair amount of time learning about Vietnamese history and the war. It is too bad more folks don't understand the side effects of US realpolitik as a Cold War strategy. I've often wondered how different would the world be be today if the US followed the Atlantic Charter principles FDR strong armed Churchill into agreeing early in WWII. Interesting factoid about Axis participants fighting each other, I was not aware of that.

[@LuKaZz420]

A lot of Japanese actually fought against the Viet Minh under British command. The British freed and re-armed Japanese P.O.W. in 1946. They almost managed to rout the Viet Minh. Look into it. Take care.

[@elviejodelmar2795]

I had the honor of having Col. Aaron Bank, the founding father of US Army Special Forces, speak at my graduation from Special Forces Officer Course. He regaled us with stories of his exploits in France and then turned quiet and looking at the CIB's on our chests, said, "I hate to tell you this, but I think I owe it to you. I knew Ho Chi Minh personally. He was much more a nationalist than a communist and we could have worked with him. I wrote that to Truman, but he didn't listen. We didn't need to fight that war." If we had backed Vietnamese Independence under Ho, he could have unified the country peacefully. Unfortunately, Le Duan became the moving forcé and he radicalized politics behind the war and subsequent consolidation of power.

[@mlouttit4924]

Ed Tolliver you are correct. Ho (who actually lived in Boston circa 1912) looked to the US for support. Unfortunately we were committed to the French. I’m not a Francophobe and will avoid smirky and historically untrue statements regarding French military prowess. Our worldview supported our allies. We should have supported Mao in China too. Our paranoia about Communism, the domino theory and yes our racism and imperialism mind set pushed left leaning nationalists into communists and right into the arms of Soviet Imperialism aka the world wide communist conspiracy. The USSR was more motivated by projecting power than spreading the gospel of Marx and Lenin.

[@frzstat]

I had a teacher in High School (late 1970s) who was a retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. serving in Korea and Vietnam (and Burma.) He told us a lot of things that weren't in our history textbooks. He suggested the U.S. wanted Ho to help fight the Japanese, and in return we would help with Vietnamese independence.

[@andrew4558]

It's quite funny that US used to be a colony of UK and US decided to back up French colonialists.

[@RCAvhstape]

I read somewhere that Ho was an admirer of Thomas Jefferson and the idea of the Declaration of Independence before he threw in hard with the communists. Methinks we screwed the pooch on that one. But at the time, it would've meant letting the French down. They'd have gotten over it eventually but nothing is free.

[@andrew4558]

Helium Road You're wrong. OSS officer helped Ho Chi Minh to write Declaration of Independence. That was the reason why its opening phrase was copied from American one. You might want to read this. www.historynet.com/ho-chi-minh-and-the-oss.htm

[@stevefowler2112]

For anyone who is interested in more detail regarding the Battle of Dien Bien Phu I highly recommend the book Hell in a Very Small Place...it is a tremendous book. As an aside, Ho Chi Minh attempted the same strategy used at Dien Bien Phu later in the Vietnam War when they attempted to take the Marine Base at Khe Sahn during the Tet Offensive...the NVA took the high ground and had the base encircled with artillery and stated digging trenches to overrun the base...The Marines fought them to a standstill and then the B52's blew them to hell...the NVA finally retreated back into North Vietnam.

[@philgiglio9656]

Bernard Fall, a French historian wrote 2 other books; Street Without Joy was the book you see Colonel Hal Moore reading in the film We Were Soldiers...Kindly note he is reading it in the original French. Fall died on that selfsame street during American involvement.

[@bobgodfrey9524]

As a combat infantryman in VietNam I never fully understood how we became involved in that war until I read the book mentioned above "Hell in a Very Small Place, The Siege of Dien Bien Phu" and the lights came on. Lesson learned there was that you should never underestimate what your enemy is capable of.

[@djolley61]

The US had the air power that the French did not.

[@hmoobmeeka]

Khe sahn was a diversionary attack for the tet offensive

[@pietristephane3537]

This was the main issue of the French forces in Dien Bien Phu, France had no bombers at the time able to reach for air support, only transport air craft to dump supplies. The plans of buying B38 to US were delayed etc...

[@tomjustis7237]

As a military history buff and Vietnam vet, I have read and studied everything I could lay my hands on regarding "my war". I regret to say The History Guy, who I respect beyond belief for his knowledge and presentations, missed a very important point regarding the cause and beginning of what became known as the Vietnam War. While the Japanese initially cooperated with the Vichy French, they eventually drove the French out of Indo-China. As THG says, Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh, with the aid of the United States OSS (forerunner of the CIA) fought against the Japanese. What he did not bring out was that once the Japanese were defeated, Ho Chi Minh, who respected the United States, formed a government to rule Vietnam as an independent nation and even supported a constitution based on the constitution of the United States. However, for this government to succeed, it was vital that France, who had been driven out, not try to return and reclaim Vietnam as a colony. To that end, Ho Chi Minh requested diplomatic recognition of his government from the United States as the true government of Vietnam. Had the United States granted that recognition, it would have politically prevented France from trying to reclaim her colony and they would not have returned to Vietnam. Unfortunately, President Truman felt the far east was a backwater, that Europe was the front line of the battle against Communism, and due to that he did not want to alienate the French government so he refused that diplomatic recognition. France returned to Vietnam and the rest, as they say, is history.

[@josephkane825]

You are a MORON!!!!!!!!!

[@kittenastrophy5951]

Now you know, "your war" was not worth dedicating your life on it. What a greedy nation France has been. Never mind , now the french deserves its karma.

[@timmcneil906]

I'm a Cold War vet who spent the last two years of the Vietnam war in "West" Germany. Always a great video, History Guy!

[@thomaswilson3437]

As an officer in Germany in the mid-90’s I had a local national civilian who worked for me. One day he came to me very apologetically and explained that he had to take some leave, that he’d be going out of town, and that he hoped it wouldn’t be a bother. I told him he could certainly take some leave and have a good time with his family. He sort of hesitated and said that he wouldn’t be with his family but would have to go to “The Reunion”. Now, this guy was just a scrawny small man (very smart and great employee) and not exactly a great physical specimen. So imagine my shock when I asked him What reunion he was going to and he just rolled up his sleeve to display a legionnaires logo tattoo. I exclaimed that I was surprised that he’d been in the Legion and asked if he liked it he said it was the worst 5 years of his life. “Then why go to the reunion” I asked, and he just looked at me like I was an idiot. “Because it is the Legion” was all he said. He also asked me to keep it to myself because while there had always been many Germans in the Legion, I was known as a haven for the SS after the war, many of whom died at and after Dien Bien Phu.

[@penguin20101000]

I wonder if the history guy would like to tackle the events leading up to the splitting of Cyprus? I live in Greece but I still feel a bit vague about the episode. I love your summaries of historical turning points -- very clearly explained!

[@deanstuart8012]

penguin20101000 Cyprus in 1974 is one of those strange events where the real winners or losers aren't actual participants. The problems in 74 were instigated by the Greek government and the island has been split since the Turkish invasion/intervention/ rescue mission (delete as per personal preference - when I crossed the line in Nicosia in April I was given an official TRNC booklet describing it as a rescue mission). The invasion actually led to the downfall of the Greek junta and the restoration of democracy in Greece, so the real winners were the Greek people. The Cypriots of both communities definitely lost.

[@januszkowalski5345]

@@deanstuart8012 > The problems in 74 were instigated by the Greek government ...< That's a lie spread by both the turkish and US government. The Turkish invasion and occupation of a neutral, non-aligned island with the ensuing genocide and expulsion of the Greek majority by the US "staunch allies" was masterminded, approved and coordinated from Washington. The turks tried to invade Cyprus as early as 1964 but at that time they got a letter from president Johnson(available online) which stated that the weapons they had had been manufactured in America and a US law strictly forbids its use against a third party without the explicit consent of the US. What else do you need to know to get behind the smokescreen and false mirrors of Kissinger's lies and turkish denials and deceptions ? Note also that the colonels' regime in Athens was established in 1967 as a result of the CIA-run coup d'etat and nothing of importance the colonels did could happen without consent from the same source that had a veto right on the use of the weapons in Turkey's possession. > when I crossed the line in Nicosia in April I was given an official TRNC booklet describing it as a rescue mission).< If you didn't flush it down the toilet out of hand , then I guess you can be easily manipulated into believing anything contradicting the basic laws of nature, logic and decency. Best regards

[@gringogreen4719]

Even JFK went to Saigon before the French withdrew. He was against US coming into Vietnam. It's interesting that quite a few Americans who served in the early 1960s questioned whether the US was fighting on the right side. This is easily seen in Ken Burn's documentary. Growing up as a military brat, I saw what happened when you send your military personnel into a unpopular conflict. Talking to WW ll veterans and Vietnam veterans were pretty night and day. While time and acceptance played a part, most veterans really did not want to talk about Vietnam. My grandfather who was active duty in both Korea and Vietnam told me more about his Korean involvement and did not talk too much about Vietnam other than he had been there.

[@deadmeatdec2164]

My uncle will not talk about it either. My dad and the other young siblings talk about his nightmares upon hs return.

[@657449]

Bernard Fall was a French reporter who wrote many books on Vietnam. Great reading and you will learn a lot of small details of the period.

[@Agwings1960]

Had a good friend who did two tours in Vietnam, he said the relationship between Americans and the Vietnamese was up and down depending on who you talked too, but all of the Vietnamese hated the French.

[@mawilkinson1957]

Thank you. That was a great snippet on the history of how we got involved. I always enjoy your lessons.

[@Mark-uq9km]

Another home run, History Guy. Thank you.

[@chrisgentry4837]

I am really enjoying your videos.

[@soundknight]

This was your best episode yet, such a great example that is often misunderstood as just "Nam".

[@jovanweismiller7114]

The last radio transmission from the French headquarters reported that enemy troops were directly outside the headquarters bunker and that all the positions had been overrun. The radio operator in his last words stated: "The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!" And Algeria was not a 'French colony'. It was a département of Metropolitan France, sending representatives to the Assemblée nationale.

[@dough9512]

Call Algeria a diamond, a pile of poo, or anything you want, it was still a colony of France.

[@dough9512]

@Tom Sanders Different people, different culture, different religions, different continent......... it was a colony. Please, use your brain!

[@sidharthcs2110]

That's a colony

[@thommadferson6449]

Great job with your channel: your choice of more obscure events in history add a great flavor that is truly interesting. Also your research and incredible detail makes your presentation excellent. Herodotus would be proud.

[@benjaminbrewer2569]

My book recommendation in the style of the history guy;) I’m not the history guy I’m just a fan, I don’t have a degree in history but I love history so when I found this channel I clicked like and subscribed... Written from the point of view of a Vietnamese rural barefoot doctor many aspects of this era in Vietnam are recounted beautifully in “Forth uncle in the mountain.” This biography shows village life and city life, opinions on the various invaders, as well as the deep religious, spiritual and folk traditions of Vietnam that never get mentioned in most western histories of this country. The story of Quan Van Nguyen is a biography that deserves to be remembered.

[@shawngilliland243]

French General LeClerc went to French Indochina after the end of the Second World War. He did some fact-finding and investigation, and made a report in which he said that while France could militarily defeat the Vietnamese, it would be be better to seek a political solution, because the Vietnamese were going to continue to struggle for independence. Colonials in French Indochine screamed bloody murder, and there was no negotiation with the Vietnamese who wanted independence.

[@johnwotek3816]

Actually, there was a begining of political solution in vietnam. But an admiral in charge of the colony went gun blazing on the viet-minh and it went downhill.

[@stevegeorge5322]

Thanks for your efforts! I enjoy your broadcasts. Keep up the good work!

[@albertgrant6670]

What a horrendous loss of Foreign Legion and support troops.Great summary.

[@jamesivie5717]

Always love your presentations.

[@kennyhagan5781]

I grew up watching guys who'd been sent to Vietnam come back and get one of the rawest deals ever. I had always wondered why the war began. Thanks for clearing that up so concisely. I learned a lot.

[@amagnier]

Thx for the video. Some of my ancestor was fighting there. He deserves to be remembered.

[@bige3417]

Believe it or not, my old man was a Liegonaire, who fought both at dien bien phu and algeria.I heard you mention recruits from german ss units as well as polish, and russian.That's quite true.I often heard him mention that and that they were the best recruits, fighting and sticking with you no matter what.He also mentioned that there were recruits from madagascar that would disappear when the fighting started and were nearly court marshalled.That old Legionaire had a lot of stories i hope to write them down one day.

[@southaussie5108]

There is an excellent book called "The Devils Guard" about the SS in the Legion. Very Very had to find these days.

[@Arlec90]

@@southaussie5108 And just that, just a novel. Great story but not true

[@vblvab]

@Arlec90 actually it is true. Some were actually shot by their fellow legionnaires when they were recognised by their former prisoners. Some Hungarian legionnaires shot a former SS who they recognised while on patrol in Vietnam.

[@PU238Wave]

You should before it's too late.

[@RicTic66]

@@southaussie5108 Plenty for sale on Amazon : ) www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/0440120144/ref=tmm_pap_used_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=used&qid=&sr= There's 2 with similar titles www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Devil%27s+Guard%3A+The+Real+Story

[@michaelfuller2153]

Another good one! Thanks H.G.!

[@johnmcnett9241]

Excellent analysis.. You made one of the more complicated messes of history simple. I think this is one of the better of your great videos.

[@markpaul8178]

Mr history guy,I live the additives about the story that is mostly unknown .superb as usual.

[@knightforlorn6731]

the greatest page on youtube, as far as I'm concerned.

[@misterjag]

Vietnam's Declaration of Independence begins with a quote from America's Declaration of Independence.

[@jimjohnston3188]

I really enjoy your history lessons. A number of years ago I was listening to a radio program that said after WW 2 members of the Waffen SS were joining the French Foreign Legion. And, as the individual who was conducting the program said "nobody kills like the Waffen SS" they were extremely effective. However, it became politically unacceptable for members of the SS to be fighting on behalf of the French. So, they were discharged and that contributed to a less effective fighting force. Although ultimately it probably would not have changed the outcome of the war, only prolonged it. Again, I really enjoy your videos and look forward to seeing more. Jim

[@KM1662]

I love your comment about how the wars of the past drive the wars of the future... If most folks would take a long view of history like that maybe we would realize how futile and wasteful war really is. You are doing great work sir!

[@unknowntraveller8633]

It never ceases to amaze me that the old Colonial power, (Britain, France and The Netherlands) all thought that after the war they could happily go back into Asia, and pick up as if nothing ever happened. Ah such Hubris.

[@dalemartell8639]

Unknown Traveller You forgot the US

[@Kuntyful]

not really... Britain could not afford an Empire after WW2... it was that or a welfare state... it too 50 years to dismantle... and the British people didn't want an Empire any more ... most it done peacefully

[@ronahue1946]

President Roosevelt's plan for post WWII called for decolonization worldwide and his VP for most of his days as president Henry A. Wallace was also very adamant on this but in his final run for office the Democratic party did not want Wallace and his liberal views although only 2% wanted Truman but the party used heavy handed tactics on the delegates to favor Truman. Roosevelt was very ill at this time and too weak to fight for his VP so Truman and unknown senator who's strongest asset was that he had few enemies was to be the seated president at war's end. Not only Vietnam but all the other wars since for Independence would never have occurred had Roosevelt lived or Wallace replaced him.

[@alexhayden2303]

Who remembers PORTUGAL?

[@QuantumRift]

Well, we let the French basically do just that - Ho, after WWII, sent several letters to President Truman imploring him for help to get the French out of Vietnam. Vietnam's history of invasions, attacks, incursions, etc goes back some 2000 YEARS. But since the Frenchies were our allies in WWII, it was decided to let them have their IndoChina back, for what good it would do them. Ho was first and foremost, a nationalist. He (and his followers) would have liked US help but alas, that wasn't to come. They wanted a free and independent, and united Vietnam, and if the US wasn't going to diplomatically oust the French, he would turn to China and the USSR>

[@nazdhillon994]

nice, brief and to the point video

[@TinselKoala]

When I was a teenager I feared getting drafted and being sent to Viet Nam. People I went to high school with were coming home in boxes. Now, my pajamas are made in Viet Nam and Saigon is a tourist destination.

[@eddingtonmillagillo4112]

The French are pissed that you didn't do enough to retain their colonies.

[@QuantumRift]

That's the way of the world. My father was on a destroyer escort during WWII, and now Japan's one of our closest allies. GO figure. Look at Germany...

[@lynnwood7205]

And now the quarter mile long sheds that I last saw when discharged from the U S Army after two tours in Vietnam fifty years ago, that once were part of a rolling mill for American made steel, employing Americans at union scale in forty an hour a week jobs sit empty and stripped there in San Francisco Bay area, while a little further up in the bay imports of steel made in Vietnam are unloaded.

[@januszkowalski5345]

@@QuantumRift > My father was on a destroyer escort during WWII, and now Japan's one of our closest allies. < allies? Rather occupied territories. On Okinawa there is an undeclared war between the US militray bases that make the life of ordinary people a never ending nightmare with murders, rapes, assaults, air and soil pollution, falling helicopters, drunk road accidents and more by young criminals in US uniforms enjoying diplomatic immunity and the powerless and desperate local population. Everywhere there is a US military base things are like that even though all teh problems are swept under the carpet by the authorities out servilism and fear of reprisals.

[@mountainguyed67]

@@januszkowalski5345 Twister!

[@richardpruett7500]

I was one of the first two U.S. diplomats permanently assigned to the SRV. I worked out of our POW/MIA office while helping to set up our liaison office and later embassy. I was surprised to learn from a pair of former well-placed SRV officials in Hanoi that the SRV government had come close to suing for peace after the Christmas bombing in 1972 but thought better of the idea when it became apparent the bombing would not be sustained. On the other hand, COL Hal Moore once told me point blank that the war was unwinnable. I dunno. I was saddened to learn how JFK, in National Security Memorandum 263, had ordered the phased withdrawal of all U.S. troops, only to have his directive effectively countermanded in NSAM 273 before close of business the very first working day after his assassination. I don’t think the two events unrelated.

[@bigearl3867]

Wow! I did not know that the old SS, and Ken Pei Ti fought in Vietnam.

[@JazznRealHipHop]

Earl el-amin it's slightly fiction but I recommend the book "Devils Guard"

[@bigearl3867]

Thanks, I will pick it up.

[@elieselane2433]

....who is the author of "Devil's Guard"? (makes it easier to find 🤓) .....

[@JazznRealHipHop]

George Robert Elford - Devils Guard (1971) Happy reading! 📚

[@joesphpittinger7907]

Try to find a book that is banned in America Called the Devils Brigade a fascinating true book.There is no propaganda or lies worse than American

[@youmaus]

The key concern of the Vietnam war (I did university papers on this) was the fact that Michelin was the primary supplier of tires for NATO...I could (and did) write a book on this...but comment space is limited....Michelin's relocation to Nova Scotia was the subject of my treatise on business ethics.

[@QuantumRift]

After WWII, Ho Chi Minh sent several letters to Truman, BEGGING for assistance in getting the French out. But, as the French were our "allies" during WWII, no help was forthcoming. Ho's letters went unanswered. Ho was first and foremost, a Vietnam "nationalist". He wanted a free, independent, unified Vietnam. When it became apparent that he would not receive any diplomatic help from the US, he turned to the USSR and China.

[@floydvaughn836]

Half wrong. Ho was a Communist FIRST. He tried to get American support, but the Communist label did as much as so called racism or loyalty to our Allies towards dooming his efforts.My question has always been, if Communism is so flawed as to fail, why resist? There's your side, and their side. Eventually, one side will win, and go broke.

[@douglasgriswold2533]

@@floydvaughn836 No, not half right. The US was not going to support Viet Nam becoming a sovereign state, and Ho was looking to get help from anybody. Most people in America firmly believe that Ho Chi Minh was a communist first and foremost. The public was inundated with stories of his visits to Russia and China. We heard repeatedly how his support from communist countries was being used to take over and create a communist stronghold in South East Asia. But the "Vietnam War" wasn't just the US in Vietnam. Nor was it France. Nor was it Japan. Vietnam has had a history of invasions, and that was first and foremost that Ho wanted to deal with. He wanted everybody out. The US would not help him because FRANCE was our ally in WWII. SO we would not push for France to lose it's colony. Ho Chi Minh was known as the great communist leader while at the same time ultimate nationalist (Ho Chi Minh, 2006). He was both but from what I've read about Ho the last 40 some years, he was a Nationalist first. But to each his own.

[@Babyinyourbedroom]

@@floydvaughn836 Everyone in Vietnam knows Ho Chi Minh was a nationalist first. Today, Vietnamese universities still teach about his thought, the most prominent of which is the view: “Put national independence before socialism”. He wrote it in The Revolutionary Road.

[@darthbradmedia8929]

I'm impressed with all your hats! Good collection

[@robertmorris2388]

This is a great post WW2 expression of often unexplained events for those of the late 50-60s paranoia “WHY” generation. I was never told much more than doctrines based on domino effect and communist fears. Europe and American, yes even American political if not land imperialism did not seem to enter conversation. Thank you History Guy Team, keep us updated and honest.

[@Snagglefratz]

Wonderful page. Love it.

[@lyonthomas5254]

I worked with an ex legioneer who fought at Diem bien fu. Alfred was his name. He was taken prisoner and was sent to prison camps where he had 300gm of rice per day. Liberated a year later he weighed 45kg. He survived only to be sent to Algeria. Really tough luck.

[@TheWeatherbuff]

Excellent episode.

[@robertwaid3579]

Excellent video as usual, History Guy, you are great!. Not only is your research spot on, but your delivery of the subject is so clear and not confusing. In simple terms you are a master "Historian", leastwise to myself. Keep up the excellent work, I personally look forward to seeing, and hearing, each one I come across. Thanks again.🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@keithweiss7899]

For the United States the war in Vietnam ended in 1973. That was the year the peace treaty was signed that ended the war. That is similar to the treaty signed in the Korean War. By the end of 1974 about the only U.S. troops left were embassy guards. The communists violated the treaty and invaded the south in 1975. By that time the policy of Vietnamization was complete and the U.S. was gone from Vietnam except for embassy guards, as we have in all embassies. We left our embassy in 1975 but for us the war had ended in 1973. This was significant to me because I graduated from high school in 1974 and might have been drafted had it not ended in 1973.

[@joelsimms4636]

It is good to learn history in this manner. With a personal touch. Much more interesting than the way l was taught back in the 50s and 60s. Much of what l was taught has been proven to be false.

[@teacherdude]

Other interesting facts is that Ho Chi Min was saved by American medical care during WWII and at one point the British had 20,000 Commonwealth troops in country. Without their help the French colonial forces would not have been able to restore French rule so prolonging the suffering of the Vietnamese by decades

[@Bubba2Guns]

Love your videos, thanks for making them. An interesting note is that when the Japanese surrendered in Vietnam, they were left in place to actively administrator the daily affairs for quite some time after the war was over until the French filled the positions.

[@flyguyinmotion]

How about doing a video on the S.S. Miaguez incident in Cambodia.

[@ElmoUnk1953]

flyguyinmotion One of my Company Commanders was involved in that incident as a young Lieutenant.

[@geoffdearth7360]

Mayaguez

[@sunshine7453]

American supported France 100% for the war, 80% directly and 20% thru Marshall's Plan. The airplanes, guns, tanks, helmets, boots... are all American. Just look at the pictures of French soldiers at Dien Bien Phu and they look exactly American. At Dien Bien Phu, there were Sherman tanks and all new American artillery. The US carrier docked at the port of Saigon and delivered Navy airplanes to the French mostly Wildcats and Corsairs fighters. The American set up a quiet airbase in Saigon to do the maintenance of those airplanes. The large transportation airplanes were the Fairchild Box Car flying by American pilots. The CIA recruited several hundred pilots flying for France in Vietnam with the idea that they would say nothing. The American flew 350 missions to Dien Bien Phu to support the French and several were killed. 5 years ago, France realized that only 5 of those pilots were still alive and rushed to honored them with the highest Medals of France but the ceremony was conducted quietly.

[@steveba50]

Brilliant as always!

[@Bialy_1]

Especialy that part about Polish SS veterans. Where else you can learn fake history? Oh wait there is plenty of that recently...

[@JagerLange]

Strictly speaking, there were no Polish/Russian members of the SS - they would have been Army or paramilitary troops (though the Waffen-SS itself was a paramilitary arm).

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Fair point.

[@marbleman52]

I am probably 'preaching to the choir', but France had huge rubber plantations in VietNam and didn't want to give them up. Also, VietNam has many abundant natural resources, especially oil & gas, which Japan particularly needed for it's own economic survival. There is nothing new about these factors being the reason why Countries often go to war with another Country. The Middle East and the oil there is an excellent example of this. This idea of bringing Democracy to the people and freeing them from the repressive and dictatorial regime that they are under is just the emotional card being played. It's about oil...always has been...always will be.

[@djolley61]

As Japan found out, it's much cheaper to buy the resources and then sell manufactured goods. Everyone wins with fair and free trade. Unfortunately, despots (like Putin, et al) always to have an external threat to draw attention away from their corruption and repression.

[@gringogreen4719]

True and true. Wars are always economic, even the religous conflicts. They are always about obtaining new resources and protecting their own. What's sad is how France tried to cling to its colonial past despite most European nations conceding the majority of their colonies. This pattern will hold true in the future. Countries will only go to war if they need to or undermine other countries to get economic advantage. I think that corporations will affect war in a slightly different way in the future since their reach is multinational and may play one side against another or seek profits over responsibilities. History shows us that companies that grow large have competiting agendas with nations does not work too well in the example of the Dutch East India Trading Company. Apple and Google should take note of this. One last thing about the French. In French Indochina they routinely worked the Vietnamese to death. When they died they dug a pit, threw the body in there, and then planted a rubber tree. That's what the Viet Minh were fighting against.

[@shawnr771]

Vietnam has claims on the Spratly islands and atolls in the South China Sea. The oil in there has been known about for sometime. There was simply not the technology to get it until recently. Vietnam, China, The Phillipines, and Brunei all claim portions. Oil might be one of the answers as to why we fought the Vietnam war. Along with numerous other natural resources. At that time had a unified Vietnam been under US influence would have put our bases much closer to the Spratlys. Having 3 of the 4 claimants on our side. Now we are selling weapons to Vietnam. Seems like we are setting up another war for oil.

[@gringogreen4719]

@@shawnr771 You are correct, however the prime reason for the Vietnam War was to fight a proxy war with Russia. It was about checking power and making and keeping regional influence. It was also to deny the Soviets a warm water port at Cam rahn bay. It was also about the loss of Cuba and an installation of a communist country right up against the US. It was also a check against China after the Korean War a decade earlier. At the time the US did not need petroleum from Vietnam. Also the technology for that was in an earlier stages for off shore drilling. There were also typhoons to deal with in that part of the world and they are much bigger and much stronger than hurricanes. See a video about Typhoon Cobra back in 1944/45 and you will see what I mean. The US was producing oil as well as buying Arabian oil and Iranian oil. It did not have as much demand for petroleum as we do today. More people, more cars and more engines today than 50 years ago. Also the area is rich in natural gas and the US was just begining to get more and more into that so it was not a prime reason. At that time oil exploration was looking for easier places to drill for petroleum.

[@pietristephane3537]

This is a dumbing down of history. It is about oil, control, access of resources, keeping sphere of influence etc. You can not say it is just oil, what was the interest to go to Afghanistan for US? Not the resources. Iran and Saudi Arabia are fighting proxy wars in all middle east today about who controls the Islam world. Oil, both of them have. Falkland war was not about oil (oil was not discovered there at the time). Panama intervention or Suez crisis had other geopolitical reasons, as the invasion of Hungary by the red army. Same for the Isreali Palestinian conflicts. Recent Crimea invasion from Russia was not for oil... War, are usually fought for many reasons at once, Irak invasion in 2003 had many reasons, not just oil, although oil was among the important ones. It is not good to dumb down things to a single word, specially in history. Of course France had interest in colonies, like all European powers cause we are small countries and our own resources are limited. Although, as a French I like to joke we colonized the countries where the ratio of "quality of food" to "effort to invade" was the best and let the rest to the English:). And for this, if you ever tried real Vietnamese food....

[@billmoyer3254]

I worked at a real estate office 35 years ago with a Frenchman who said he was at Dien Bien Phu. He told me once the enemy artillery was on the ridges surrounding their position, it was just a matter of time before they either fought to the death, starved or surrendered.

[@331SVTCobra]

French Battle Plan: Let's discard our advantage in manueverability and airpower, position our battle force in the most treacherous and unsupportable location, and give every possible advantage to the adversary.... ya, let's do that.

[@hmoobmeeka]

France was protecting laos from another viet minh invasion while at the same time trying to defeat the viet minh once and for all. The only problem was France underestimated the viet minh's ability to move heavy artillery into the surrounding mountains

[@graemesydney38]

No, the French ignored the advice of their own logistic advisors. The tactical layout also broke the principle of Mutual Support leading to been defeated in detail (location by location). A dumb idea badly executed.

[@ellsworth1956]

Oh and lets just occupy the valley, always take the low ground!

[@francoisdupuis4510]

to be fair this was a pretty large valley, the problem was the french arrongance who thought at the time that ho chi minh could not move artillery in the area, and with an airstrip air cover and our own artillery the french could win a defensive battle and break the back of the vietnamiese army....

[@graemesydney38]

"the problem was the French arrongance". That's a reasonable summary of motivation but its is hard to attribute collective motivation. Politics and impatience also played a part. The French understood Mao guerilla warfare theory and wanted to stop the hit and run stage and bring on the conventional set piece battle. They wanted this for the general reason that France could not afford in any sense a 5-10 year hit and run conflict. The strategy was to offer a target 'too good to resist'. "to be fair this was a pretty large valley," True for the length but not the width. It has been described as a "rice bowl". I haven't seen a topographic map but from photos the valley was 5-10 klms wide to the overlooking hills (rice bowl rim). The defended position was long and narrow and not conducive to mutual defence (something like 1-2 wide by 10klm long). The overlooking high ground was the Ground of Tactical Importance (GTI). The French could have forgone the GTI IF they could dominate and control the GTI by fire. To control by fire required devastating firepower AND observation. The French had neither AND no hope of either. But the lack of observation in a bowl surrounded by jungle forest was the most mind boggling obvious mistake. And they couldn't land and sustain an infantry force large enough to could control the GTI by occupation or patrolling (and hold the air strips). The air lift capacity was the intractable logistical problem that mis-shaped the tactical decisions. The air lift problem was number of a/c, flight time (distance) and offload/turn around facilities. The choice became 'a small force and lots of stores' or 'large force and few stores'. They choose large force and few stores and the stores that were consciously left off were the engineering stores (posts, barbed wire, mines, iron sheets etc). So they were going to offer the irresistible target 'fortress' without the means to construct the fortress. The complete and utter French leadership failure at the strategic, operational and tactical level is mind boggling. They broke just about every principle of military science. They misread the terrain. They misread the enemy. No plan B. No mutual support at the operational or tactical level. They were superb at the soldier level - local commanders and grunts, but other than that...... I think the 'surprise' of VM arty is a myth, lie and an excuse perpetrated by the guilty. The French had completely forfeited the initiative to the VM (probably the biggest no no in mil tactics). They put them selves in a position as an irresistible target, no retreat possible, no relief possible (mutual support) and forfeiture of the initiative. The VM had such control of the situation they could have built a four lane expressway to the battlefield without French interference. Which is pretty much what they did to get the field arty and a/a arty into position - surprise surprise!!!! They also built earthworks and had saps leading right up to the French wire. I think the earthworks and saps could have defeated the French even without the arty support. More costly in cas for sure but probable. The very best the French could ever hope for was a stale mate and a 'running sore' which was complete contrary to their military and political strategic needs. A complete annihilation or capitulation was always the most probable and obvious military outcome. Only the most military ignorant or wildly optimistic would have seen anything else.

[@blackbird5634]

In the weeks leading up to the battle at Dien Bien Phu the French lost thousands of trained jungle fighters by ordering them to meet in that valley for the conflict as they had to cover many miles in open jungles through hostile territory. One group of 600 men on operations in the north, was sent the message to meet up, and within three days they disappeared en route through the jungle never to be heard from again.

[@JazznRealHipHop]

Reminded of that book "Devils Guard", my dad had an original copy I borrowed to read when I was younger. Yes I know it's halfway fiction, but sparked my interest in that time and place in history that not many people think about or teach.

[@neileskew3454]

Thanks for enlighten videos

[@kypreston1045]

One of the first historical books I read was about this battle. It was terrifying

[@rexfrommn3316]

The French had logistical problems at Dien Bien Phu. Plus, the French tactical air force was not able to always launch effective sorties against the Viet Minh. The Viet Minh camoflauged their artillery pieces and troop positions. The ability of the Viet Minh to move heavy artillery through the jungle made it only a matter of time for the end of the French at Dien Bien Phu. The inadequacies of the French Air Force with tactical ground support really hurt them in their garrison. But the French concept of using a garrison of paratroopers to draw the enemy out into a conventional battle was actually used by the U.S. military under different circumstances. The United States had the siege of Khe Sahn in 1968. But U.S. artillery fire bases, tactical airpower, and B-52's from Guam and Thailand really made the difference at Khe Sahn. The U.S. had many long siege battles such as at Con Thien ofn 1967 along the DMZ area. Plus, the U.S. had many Special Forces camps hidden around remote areas of South Vietnam. Many of these Special Forces camps were potential little Dien Bien Phu's waiting to happen. Some were overrun until the U.S. Air Force rqpidly developed old transport planes into gunships armed with gatling rotary .30 caliber machine guns, light cannons, and flares. These C47 transport planes and later C-19 Boxcar transports made effective gunships called in for night fire with excellent accuracy. U.S. artillery fire bases were the main work horses protecting Special Forces camps. These artillery fire bases used the 105mm cannons, mostly 81mm with some 4.2 mortars typically. Sometimes artillery firebases came under Viet Cong and NVA infantry attack forcing artillerymen to seerve as their own infantry. So the Dien Bien Phu concept of using infantry in remote camps as "bait" to draw enemy troops out in the open for artillery and air strikes was used a lot by the U.S. Army. These tactics inflicted heavy losses on the NVA and Viet Cong enemies. The U.S. Army troops developed effective gun trucks with makeshift welded armor around the cab with crew served weapons. These gun trucks were frequently 2.5 ton trucks. These gun trucks frequently had couple of dual mounted .50 caliber machine guns, or duel mounted M-60 machine guns with one single 0.50 caliber machine gun in the cab and grenade launchers plus a radio to cpmmunicate with the convoy. Some 5 ton gun trucks had M113 armored bodies on their rear and bristled with firepower. Some ofmthese gun trucks used rotary gatling gun .30 caliber machine guns used in helicopter gunships and C-47 gunships. These gun trucks got between the convoy and the ambushers to pour on the firepower. Gun trucks also were used in remote bases as mobile firepower at night to guard the perimeter of U.S. bases against night attacks of NVA and Viet Cong. Tactically, these gun trucks were enormously effective saving the lives of countless American and South Vietnamese soldiers. These gun trucks were used again in Iraq and Afghanistan. www.smithsonianchannel.com/shows/gun-trucks-of-vietnam/0/3462307 www.military.com/undertheradar/2018/11/09/unknown-history-gun-trucks-vietnam.html www.historynet.com/spooky-gunship-operations-in-the-vietnam-war.htm

[@lynnwood7205]

Rex fromMN : Quadfifty Gun Trucks. See the NDQSA website.

[@richarddismore7499]

This one I would rate "Better than Average" I enjoy all of your videos but of course I like some better than others. Great job! Keep up the good work! :) Richard

[@petermortimer6303]

A good summary but I have a couple of small criticisms of it. At 6:08 the Viet Minh moved their artillery "through tunnels dug into the surrounding hills". They moved them along jungle tracks which were bombed regularly by the French and then rebuilt overnight by the Viet Minh. They dug the artillery into the hills but didn't dig tunnels through the hills. At 6:11 you said the"artillery destroyed the roads and airfields (there was only one airstrip) forcing the French to be supplied by air". I assume you mean they were supplied by parachute drops because being re-supplied by air using the airstrip was always the plan. There were no roads to bring in supplies and that was never considered. And at the end the comment about the SS at Dien Bien Phu perpetuates the myth of the Legion being full of former SS which it wasn't. There is a lot of information dispelling that but too much to cover here. I also note that in other comments the novel "Devil's Guard" is mentioned. It is just a novel.

[@SuperVt100]

You should do a series on Air America.

[@Idahoguy10157]

I knew a USAF Master Sgt who in the late 1960’s in Guam had a conversation with an old French foreign legion trooper. My friend asked about a blood type tattoo on him. Indicating the legionnaire has been in the SS in WW2. The old legionnaire confirmed my friend’s observation. This was about 25 years after Germany’s surrender and he was still serving overseas for France.

[@styvo51]

The politics are one thing that still divides many today but the tenacity and patriotism of the Viets is surely worth remembering, in and of itself. In the 20th century alone, they saw off the Japanese, French, US +allies and Chinese (twice!), all via a massive collective effort and at a huge cost to the people. They are, quite rightly, proud of their hard-won independence whatever anyone else may think. That sounds about right to me.

[@CallieMasters5000]

FYI: Vietnamese Emperor Bao Dai is buried in the Passy Cemetery in Paris, near the Trocadero (which provides the best views of the Eiffel Tower). Other burials there include the daughter of the Shah of Iran, the wife of Prince Louis II of Monaco, many political and business leaders, and a stewardess from the Concorde crash. Well worth a visit if you ever get the chance!

[@571951rhoehn1]

The Vietnamese were excellent fighters. They took everything we could throw at them and they either won or tied the war (depends on who you are).

[@robert43g]

Also dont forget in the Vietnam war also Australia & New Zealand were involved

[@alleycatvietnam]

Thanks Find out more @ wwwhueyvets.com Cheers from San Francisco ps Google " Andy Perry "

[@stevepercival4774]

I remember seeing anti war slogans painted in ChCh in the 70's as a nipper-cheers for the memories.

[@juanelorriaga2840]

My uncle saw a lot of Aussies and he remarked they were great allies although there were a few scuffles between US and US soliders it never got out of hand and was solved by buying a round of drinks.He remarked I think of a battle called Long Tan? It was a Aussie

[@mountainguyed67]

@@juanelorriaga2840. Yeah the US is known to scuffle with itself.

[@andrewwmacfadyen6958]

Irony is I have seen accounts that Ho Chi Minh though an anti-colonialist communist was not completely anti-American, the USA failing to realise that the Viet Minh's relationship with Communist China was't a bed of roses were major failures in US foreign policy that cost thousands US lives.

[@louisglen1653]

I am surprise you didn't give details about the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. How the Vietnamese tunnelled underneath hill A1 and set off almost a ton explosives.. at which time they stormed the hill. I really love your videos!

[@kevinaustin5342]

I was taught that Ho was not a communist but rather wanted to model his unified country on the USA and had even planned on adopting the US Bill Of Rights for his own citizens. When the US turned their back on him to support France's claims on their colonial holdings in SE Asia Ho was forced to turn to China and the USSR for support

[@josephkane825]

Now is the time to throw off that old teaching, get yourself some "Enlightened Bright Spirit"!

[@infantryattacks]

Good synopsis. French military intelligence predicted the Viet Minh would employ artillery against their troops at Dien Bien Phu, but it failed to correctly assess how this artillery would be used against them. The French expected the enemy artillery would be used in the open and concentrated in batteries and battalions. Instead the Viet Minh deployed individual guns in fortified caves that had narrow embrasures and were nearly invulnerable to French counterfire. The Viet Minh massed fires by siting numerous individual guns that covered the same target area. In retrospect, the French should not have been surprised by this effective tactic. This method of artillery employment was used by the Chinese Communist forces in Korea and it was an open secret that Chinese instructors were teaching the Viet Minh to use their newly acquired artillery, mostly captured US 105mm howitzers. However, the French truly messed up by failing to predict that the Viet Minh would bring large numbers of 37mm AAA guns to Dien Bien Phu. These AAA guns inflicted considerable losses on French fighter bombers and greatly complicated the reinforcement and logistical support of the besieged garrison. The combination of Viet Minh artillery and AAA guns broke the back of French resistance. Nonetheless, it was a much closer battle than generally recognized. If the Monsoon had arrived a couple of weeks earlier, it is doubtful that the Viet Minh would have been able to continue effective logistical support for its forces, which were operating at greatly extended distances from communist supply centers.

[@ronduck2812]

Good job Sir 👍

[@stonefree1911]

This a super cool channel!

[@joelsimms4636]

My dads ship,the cruiser North Hampton was sunk at the battle of Guadalcanal. If you know any thing about this I would like to hear it. I've seen documentary s on it but nothing regarding my dads ship. Thanks.

[@jelmerbakker5553]

I whill recomend you the KZbin channel: Drachinifel . He has amazing stories and information also about the northhampton.

[@dougdrvr]

You may seek out a book called “Neptune’s Inferno “ by Hornfisher.

[@camdflage]

Perhaps you could describe the battle of Long Tan, involving the Aussies in Vietnam. PS, thank you for an amazing channel, fantastic presentation, and engaging enthusiasm for history.

[@filipeamaral216]

Interesting video, quite a very basic overview (there were three phases of the war). The ever present claim of the US paying 80% of the war is made at 4:56, but Bernard Fall already contested this statement way back in 1962. Not only that, the Americans were actively anti-French until 1950, when South Korea gets invaded. Another point worth mentioning is the difference in phases with the Viet Minh being contained and largely defeated until 1949, when Mao takes over China and provides the active sanctuary for the VM to train and receive logistical support, thus opening the second phase in 1950, with artillery reducing French outposts in Cao Bang. The third phase starts with the end of the Korean War and the Indochina conflict becoming the main effort of the communists in Asia. And most importantly, you forgot the most famous unit in of the war: the French paratroopers! They were responsible for the most daring and dramatic actions of the war, being the center of attention of the press for most of the time. The other offensive French units were the Groupes Mobiles (mechanized columns crossing the nation, they also had an Armoured Group) and the Dinassauts (Riverine armoured flottillas, highly efficient and created espeficly for Indochina). Last note: the Poles never served in the SS. The French Foreign Legion received many SS veterans but not as many as the communist propaganda said, especially because the European volunteers were mostly young men fleeing socialist countries, mainly East Germany (Nicolas Sarkozy's father was fleeing Hungary); so, it was in the communist block's interest to malign the FFL.

[@dorsai]

Excellent coverage, but there was so much more left untold, like how Roosevelt was in favor of giving Ho what he'd fought against the Japanese for. Another mostly hidden fact was the role the CIA played in all of this, even before the French pulled out and not just in Vietnam, but also in Laos and Cambodia. In the end they picked up the French CIAs involvement in the local opium trade, something the French had been using to fund their part in their war against Ho.

[@WyomingWindy]

This was fascinating to me. I want to research more. My father was in Korean War on a destroyer & was then sent over to Vietnam in 1953. I was alarmed to find out USA stuck their fingers in & suddenly paying 80% of costs. My own opinion, it being a proxy war, based on paranoia once USA became involved, I also now refer to it as the American war, although I always have to explain why, of course. My 1st husband was also a veteran of what is listed on his DD214 as Vietnam War. Now, everybody, shall we jump forward to McNamara, LBJ, & Tonkin Gulf incident (i.e., lie) in 1964? Was the only time I saw my father cry when Walter Cronkite played the clip from LBJ's speech on Tonkin plan, which he televised after 2300 hr the night before, after it was already in motion. My father sobbed. It frightened me seeing him like that. I was 7 years old. But I learned why it hit him so hard. He knew it was never a winnable war from when he was there a decade before. Many reasons - jungle warfare, too far from home ports & sub danger restocking in Guam, etc, and wasn't USA business. We're likely other reasons.

[@75RWM]

Enjoy seeing the different hats on the crystal skull.

[@mkuehn5450]

double checked the photo at 2:34, the Potsdam conference, July - August 1945, Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, and Harry S. Truman. i was confused with a similar one from Yalta from February of the same year, featuring Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, and Franklin Roosevelt.

[@robertrichard6107]

FDR and Churchill had to meet Chang Kie Shek on the way to Yalta in Egypt since Uncle.Joe wouldn't have any of him around.

[@ricardos.cabral8409]

Excelente trabalho

[@brucecook1940]

really interesting site. I'd like to suggest a piece on colorados navy, and a piece of how Breckenridge officially became part of the united states in 1936. keep them coming they're great

[@douglasdickey8664]

Can you share some history about the ni Ena convention in 325 ad

[@Pb-ij4ip]

Trivia time! I can’t remember which book I read it in (it was either David Hackworth’s “Steel My Soldiers Hearts” , “From Hopeless to Hardcore” or “We Were Soldiers Once, and Young”, the author of which slips my mind at the moment) but the VC used to use bugle calls and whistles as prompts for actions. They had captured a bugle from the French in one of the later battles and were using it the war against the Americans. At some point the unit in possession of this bugle was defeated by an American unit and the horn fell into American hands. I’m sure this would be better if I remembered the details, but it is interesting in this aspect (at least to me): in the American Civil War it was a great thing to capture a battle flag. Once that was done, however, what was the use? Capturing a bugle doesn’t seem like much, but then to use it to rally their own troops against the foe who lost it!? It may not be a bullet, but it is certainly a slap in the face!

[@philgiglio9656]

AGAIN BERNARD FALL, Street without Joy

[@Pb-ij4ip]

phil giglio sorry, l didn’t read far enough down the comments to see that. I have since found your original comment, and the story I was thinking of did in fact come from Gen. Moore’s account. I’ve not read Street Without Joy. I think will officially add it to my “to read” list.

[@avvocato5543]

You need to do a segment on the Masterdom War (1946). It really leads into this.

[@georgemartin1436]

Already watched it. But I'll watch it again...it's The History Guy, after all...

[@charlescrowell4981]

The french parable on castor and pollex. "Why are you crying?"" I am fearing for all the terrible things that are awaiting you."

[@100forks]

I would love one of your history lessons on the Gulf of Tonkin incident.

[@nedludd7622]

On VE Day, French military started the massacre of Setif in Algeria. If war was not inevitable before, then it was. As to other decolonization wars, those of the British in Malaya and Kenya are worthy of mention.

[@deborahriley7355]

Have you done the Black September uprising? King Hussain received direct combat support from Rhein Air Base Frankfurt Germany where I was stationed. I was the expedite point for all priorities 1-4 at base supply. It is a very overlooked piece of history that that spawned a civil war in Lebanon that killed an estimated 150,000 people and the murder of the Israeli Olympic athletes in Munich.