Indochina War: the Battle for Tonkin - ECPAD

Combat footages of the Indochina War in 1951 -- 1952. From the ECPAD, the French military media service.
Glory to these men from the French Far East Expeditionary Corps!

[@eric2685]

Photographers risked their lives for this . Not seen this film footage before , including the frantic battle scenes . Thank you for showing images of a big , but largely forgotten war . .

[@logibear64]

No braver men than those French and other foreign troops that fought in Indochina. My hat is off to the Viet-Mihn. They were equally brave.

[@logibear64]

The US did the same thing the French did in Vietnam but with more men and more money and arrived at the same result.

[@manapple176]

@@Fatyoshie234 And America also did fight in Laos and Cambodia

[@intelprointelpro4452]

La cuvette, prélude à celle de Dien bien phu. Le Viet minh a tiré les leçons de cette bataille. Ce que n'ont pas fait les généraux français et de plus le gouvernement et la population française au sortir de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale ont refusé ce conflit lointain et impopulaire. La victoire n'est jamais du côté des étrangers qui occupent un pays et les exemples récents sont nombreux. Un immense respect pour tous ceux qui sont tombés.

[@Voss2120]

Funny how since WW2 all propeller aircraft have the 'Stuka Siren' on them in movies, even though only the Stuka had them equipped made that horrible scream when it dove. The Stuka and is horrible siren was made legendary since then.

[@Nettempereur]

Exactement. D'ailleurs dans le même genre, hollande a honoré aujourd'hui en Algérie le traître communiste audin. On salit les soldats Français, on honore les traîtres, voilà la France dont nous héritons. Que viennent les temps nouveaux!

[@Fortress60]

All for nothing. They had their own reward, which was their honour. The same for those who died in the war in Algeria. And now France, and the rest of western Europe is itself colonized. That is our problem now.

[@gringologie9302]

Actual mass migration are not link to colonization. That's a lie to say that. If so, explain us mass migration into Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Italy etc etc...

[@Calcio006]

Merci pour cette vidéo. Si tu en as d'autre concernant l'Indochine, n'hésite pas ;)

[@Russiakiew]

vive.les.combattant.et.vive.la.legion.etrangere.1951.indochine

[@MrHide59]

Too bad you didn't put the whole movie of the Battle of the Tonkin, The battle of Vinh-Yen is not shown, and the Gal de Lattre is only shown at his funeral haha that's quite bad when you know that he changed the face of that war... but great initiative to show archives of that war on YT !

[@eric2685]

Even with total air superiority , the French defeat was inevitable , as they were not as well trained to fight in this new type of war . The hit and run tactics of the Viet Minh proved largely successful . Battles like Na San were exceptional , but the French did not learn from this victory, making the mistake of Dienbienphu instead . Under different High Command , this might not have been the case , but this is only speculation .

[@doanhvu9593]

@thesheeshman Casualties and losses -Viet minh 191,605 dead or missing -French union and state of vietnam : 134,500 dead or missing Ratio 1,4 :1 -PAVN and NLF 1,000,000 dead or missing. 150 aircrafts and helicopters -USA 58,000 and 3500 aircrafts ,5500 helicopters. USA spend 686 billion USD (more than 950 billion USD in today's money)(The French only spend a few hundred million dollars each year, so it's only about a few billion dollars) -ARVN 300,000 dead or missing, 1,000,000 captured. 1.351 aircrafts and helicopters ,877 aircrafts and helicopters captured.

[@Nettempereur]

J'ai parmi mes vidéos un film de Schoendoerffer sur la bataille de Na San. Je ne sais pas si tu as regardé ma liste vidéo. Merci pour ton commentaire!

[@sontungle2641]

if I'm not wrong there were 25 Long Tom cannon supplied to the French Army with there 1936 era 105mm howitzer.

[@Fidelio2]

I have heard that the majority of men in the French Foreign Legion in French Indochina were Germans. Anyone know if this was true or not?

[@gringologie9302]

A lot were, that's true. But also all the surviving french LVF / SS33RD / milician / franc garde etc etc... To be precise ; a lot of people who served the Reich.

[@NKWittmann]

Les combats d'Indochine sur la musique de Wagner ; le chant du cygne de l'empire français...

[@zeetran]

my grandfather was chop up into 10pieces by the french because they tho he was a viet minh. he was only 27yrs old.

[@Nettempereur]

Man, you speak without any knowledge about this war. When you will read Jean Lartéguy's books about Indochina and watch Schoendoerffer movies, you will open you mouth on that topic. The British would have failed whatsoever because the reason why the French lost was not "inexperience of jungle fighting" but many things which are far beyond you knowledge so far. Read the books, watch the movies and come back next time.

[@sontungle2641]

Yo Hello, from Vietnam if I'm not wrong one time my grandfather said he fight as a weapon mechanic in either Indochina War or Vietnam War, but all those thanks to your video, which make me know more about Indochina War thanks.

[@rooftopcat1785]

STREET WITHOUT JOY.

[@Nettempereur]

You cannot be that dishonest. Comparing Indochina with Hong Kong is complete manipulation, a whole country with a little urban area? Let's just take Burma and we see the British did not do much better than the French did. Moreover, 1954 and 1997 is completely different time, and Vietnam has lived in a communist regime while Hong Kong has been able to develop with free market democracy. Comparing such different situtions makes your statement foolish, whatever the defaults of French colonialism.

[@renelecoustree6642]

ma question est pourquoi les bonbardiers n ont ils pas intervenu en masse a Dien Bien Phu.....

[@gringologie9302]

Parcequon en avait pas en masse, parceque les américains ont refusés de nous soutenir (officieusement car ils voulaient récupérer notre présence en Asie du sud est). On a vue le résultat. Avec ce qu'ils avaient de déployés ne serait ce qu'en Corée, leur support ne leur aurait rien coûté ou presque.

[@ramO-jp8tp]

Anyone know the song at 5:40, I know I’ve heard it before

[@Nettempereur]

Richard Wagner - Siegfried funeral march (Götterdämmerung)

[@boring247boring5]

Rest dans Peace Liliane de Toulon Fr Born December 21 le 1939 Departed September 11 2021

[@Nettempereur]

Sur le site de l'ECPAD. J'en ai d'autres (par exemple, l'invasion de l'Allemagne Nazie par l'armée de De Lattre ou l'Armée Française au Tchad pour l'opération Tacaud dans les années 80) mais comme j'ai reçu un avertissement pour ma vidéo sur le RPIMA en Afghanistan, je suis interdit de mettre des vidéos de plus de 15 minutes pendant six mois! ;-( trop nul Tu l'as trouvé comment cette vidéo? Bien non? =)

[@Voss2120]

So much propaganda. Yet, it's so sad. The French had the best opportunity to end the conflict, but so many blunders and the French not having the stomach the to win. Even if the French won, I am sure today Vietnam would be independent and free. I doubt France would have kept her as a colony for very long after the conflict.

[@fullthrottlealways]

Hello

[@hebanker3372]

SEVRR06:Brave claims without proof at all.1)The British under Major-general Douglas Gracey occupied SOUTHERN Indochina for recent time only to disarm the remaining Japanese forces that were still stationed there,which they didn't resisted at all,while the north was occupied by Chinese forces under the command of General Lu Han which were ordered to do the same.There were a few skirmishes between British forces and the Vietminh,yes,but apart from that nothing more.2)Even if the British had waged war in Indochina they would leave soon after for two reasons:due to lack of economical recources,and,shortage of manpower.Soon after the war,India,who supplied the 1/3 of the total British army,gained it's independence,depriving from the United Kingdom the majority of the ''Jewel of it's Crown'' economy,plus, a large quantity of forces.We must also not forget the fact that Britain was accepted the majority of the funds USA provided to Europe via Marshall Plan,another fact that confirms my claims.And to end this,in case you don't want to accept it,i'll give you the perfect event that seals those thoughts above.I'll take you from Southeast Asia,to the Mediterranean and the Greek civil war.From 1944 the Greek goverment clashed the Greek communist partisans which led to the later's defeat in 1949.What must be noticed,is that the goverment forces were backed by Britain and USA,BUT,there's a little detail in all this.Britain supported the Greek goverment from 1944 to 1947 and then gave it's place to USA because,as i said above,of low economic rate.And now i'm asking you:If the British weren't able to even support a war,let alone to wage it themselves,so close to mainland England even that it was in their field of interests(Churchill himself had agreed with Stalin to keep Greece under British influence)then tell me,HOW THE FUCK would the British wage and win a war against the Vietminh?In case you will answer me,answer me with facts like i did.

[@Nettempereur]

A most clever answer, thanks sir.

[@hebanker3372]

Nettempereur You're welcome.By the way nice video.Just what i wanted.I was searching for De Tassigny's offensive.

[@hebanker3372]

Nettempereur Do you know the type of the artillery pieces in 04:04?They are very badass.

[@Nettempereur]

Αθανασιος Ζαχαροπουλος I think it is the 105 mm M2A1 (M101A1) howitzer.

[@hebanker3372]

Nettempereur A thousand pardons,i wanted to say the ones in 04:11.

[@les8351]

People died there because of French bureaucracy back in Paris.

[@notannoyedbird1820]

Việt Nam muôn năm

[@nicolasfeinercontestin6577]

WTF is he firing at 07:37 ????

[@Nettempereur]

I am not entirely sure but it looks like a Reibel machine gun, infantry model MAC 31A1.

[@vphuvan]

Comparing HK in 1997 with VN in 1840-1940 is kind of unfair - I am saying that even though I would snuff out French colonialists with no more thought that I would give to snuffing out mosquitoes or cockroaches. Yes, the "mission civilisatrice" was a bust - The literacy rate in VN during the French period was 5%-10%. Within five years of independence, each half of VN had jacked up the literacy rate to 90% and above. We did in five years what the bumbling motherfuckers couldn't do in 100. The French colonial government was always clear that the basis of its rule was force. So we convinced them to leave by speaking the language of force. I'll give them this, though: the French prisons were more humane than any of the later Vietnamese prisons.

[@vphuvan]

There is much about French culture that I like. Ditto about French people, too. French colonialists ... let's say that the youngest already have one foot in the grave and nature will take its course.

[@TheOlive200]

Enfin je veux pas être méchant même si ce documentaire a de l interet mais ça sent bon la propagande quand meme

[@Nettempereur]

Bien sûr, à l'époque, tous les reportages d'informations étaient de la propagande, que ce soit dans les démocraties occidentales que dans les républiques socialistes. En France, le contrôle de l’État sur les chaînes de télévision a commencé à se relâcher dans les années 70, au profit d'entreprises et d'intérêts privés.

[@HelloWorld394]

The VietNamese have never accepted any kind of stranger domination for about 4 000 years, The Chinese,the Mongole,the American,...,and the French were defeated in VietNamese territory... The French lost ..., so we have the freedom,independance,...

[@calvacoca]

Freedom ? Is Really vietnam a country of liberty ? Hum, that's not what Vietnamese write on social networks...

[@Matt.71]

"never accepted any kind of stranger domination" then why were there very few insurections in indochina? and the few insurections that happened were quickly crushed, some of them by indochinese troops loyal to France! it also needed the japanese to get the french out of indochina and the chinese-soviets to support the war…

[@VOSAN]

@@calvacoca Social network is full of anti communist, anti gorverment groups funded by "free world". The war was never ended , the "free world" never accept they lost a hummiliation war. We Vietnammese always fell lucky because there is a strong political party which can guide us through hard times of French and American domination. The freedom you fight to gain is the only true freedom.

[@VOSAN]

@@Matt.71 When the French was strong, and the Vietnammese was weak no doubt they will crush us like kill an ant. And before Viet Minh, there were not a strong politcal party or group which can unite a whole nation so the French can use divide and conquer tactic to destroy any insurgents. When Viet Minh came the situation changed. Although the French still had more advantages in numbers(more experience troops, legionaire, Vietnammese colaborators,...), they lack one importance thing: The hearts and minds of people. After the public declaration of the new Viet Nam in Hanoi in 1945, vietnammese people believed they are now citizens of Vietnam, not Tonkin, Cochichine or Annam. They believed in independent and liberty so the French or American can came and do anything they can do but they can not destroy our people's believe in a new independent nation, not Tonkin, not Cochichine, not Annam, not South Vietnam, only Vietnam.

[@SEVRR06]

The inexperience of jungle fighting and the strong antifrench attitude of the local populous swelled the ranks of the Vietminh. Had the British held the colony and reinforced their garrisons, the Vietminh wouldn't have stood a chance. By the time America got there, the NVA were too strong and battle hardened to dislodge without a full commitment of the us army as if in a much larger campaign

[@btl86-ctckgm68]

Giặc đạp kitô giáo xâm lược Việt Nam .

[@fullthrottlealways]

The British were far better colonizers than the French SEVVRR06 is correct. Take a look at Hong Kong in 1997 and compare that with Vietnam in 1954. Vietnam is still a defiantly backward, third world jungle. Mission civilisatrice was a failure not as a theory but in practice.

[@Voss2120]

Yea? Your point? Even if the French won I bet they would leave in 10-20 years. I am not picking sides. I hate the French. I am just speculating.