French troops

Ho Chi Minh’s Democratic Republic of Vietnam recognized by The People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union. China sends military advisors and weapons to Viet Minh. Most of the armament American-made and formerly supplied to Chiang Kai-shek.

U.S. recognizes Bao Dai and the French-controlled South Vietnamese government. Viet Minh begins offensive against French in North Vietnam. Senator Joseph Mc Carthy of Wisconsin claims that the U.S. State Department harbors communists.

President Truman orders U.S. troops into Korea following invasion of North Korean troops into the south.

Truman authorizes $15 million in military aid to the French for Vietnam. American military advisors assigned to help the French. By 1954 the U.S. will spend $3 billion dollars more on the war and provide 80% of all war supplies.

Viet Minh under General Vo Nguyen Giap begin troop movement against French at Chinese border. Mre than 6,000 French lose their lives and a large store of supplies.

Viet Minh begin attacks in the Red River Delta. French troops under General Jean de Lattre successfully strike back.

Giap leads several failed attacks against the French at Mao Khe and the Day River. Thousands of troops lose their lives.

Viet Minh troops withdraw from the Red River Delta.

General de Lattre attempts to involve Giap in battle at Hoa Binh. General de Lattre returns to France having been diagnosed with cancer. He is replaced by General Raoul Salan.

Giap changes Viet Minh tactics and wages hit-and-run attacks followed by retreat into the jungle.

French launch Operation Lorraine in an attempt to target Viet Minh supply bases. Giap draws French out from the De Lattre Line and attacks between the Red and Black Rivers.


Operation Lorraine is cancelled.



Dwight D. Eisenhower inaugurated 34th President of U.S. During his term he increases military aid to the French and cites the “Domino Theory” as reason for U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia.


Josef Stalin dies. Nikita Khrushchev replaces him as head of the Soviet Union.

Korean War ends and country is divided at the 38^th parallel. Korea is seen as a model for ending the Vietnam conflict.

French General Henri Navarre begins Operation Castor, the construction of outposts protecting a small air base in the jungle valley at Dien Bien Phu in northwest Vietnam. General Giap masses troops and equipment and prepares to confront the French. 

Viet Minh troops, outnumbering the French 5 to 1, move in on the Dien Bien Phu Air Base. General Giap shuts down the only runway and then begins the construction of tunnels and trenches.

10,000 French soldiers surrender at Dien Bien Phu; prisoners are marched 500 miles to a camp, nearly half die during the march or in captivity. France withdraws from Vietnam. 400,000 soldiers and civilians die on all sides during the eight-year struggle.

Geneva Conference begins to decide the fate of Vietnam. The Geneva Accords divide the country at the 17^th parallel. Ho Chi Minh gets the north, Bao Dai, the south. It is determined elections will be held in two years to reunify the country.

Ho Chi Minh returns from hiding in the jungle to take control of North Vietnam. Ngo Dinh Diem installed as prime minister of South Vietnam. Diem, a Catholic, asks Catholics living in the North to come to the south. Nearly a million do so, and 90,000 communists go north. However, 10,000 Viet Minh are instructed to quietly stay behind.