Causes and Consequences of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu was a battle in the 1st Indochina War between the Viet Minh and the French colonial forces. For 55 days, 10000 men of the French forces battled against nearly 50000 Viet Minh guerrillas. The battle resulted in a shameful loss for the French and was one of the worst military disasters for the French of all time. This battle spelled the end of the 1st Indochina War.
One cause of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu was the French Plan. General Henri Navarre, commander-in-chief of the French forces in Indochina devised a plan. His plan was to decimate the Viet Minh forces by using a military camp as bait. Because the Viet Minh did not have the military hardware the French had, General Navarre thought his men would enough hardware to overcome a Viet Minh force of about 20000 men. General Navarre brought 10000 men in by using air transport and this operation was observed by Viet Minh from the mountains. The French troops were inexperienced in operating in the terrain of Dien Bien Phu.
Another cause of of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu was the Viet Minh mobilisation. Giap mobilised about 50000 combat troops to fight the French. They carried artillery pieces to the battle on their backs or by push-bike. General Navarre was only prepared to fight a force of about 20000 men. And what he didn’t know was that the Viet Minh had brought hugely superior artillery firepower with them.
Another cause of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu was French colonialism. France had occupied Indochina since 1858 and they had treated the Vietnamese harshly. The Vietnamese farmers had to give all their profits to the French and if they did not meet the quota set by the French, they were punished. The French treated the Vietnamese as ignorant savages with no pride which caused the Vietnamese to feel humiliated and shamed. The treatment of the Vietnamese by the French sowed the seeds for revolt against the French and ultimately the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.
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One cause of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu was the French Plan. General Henri Navarre, commander-in-chief of the French forces in Indochina devised a plan. His plan was to decimate the Viet Minh forces by using a military camp as bait. Because the Viet Minh did not have the military hardware the French had, General Navarre thought his men would enough hardware to overcome a Viet Minh force of about 20000 men. General Navarre brought 10000 men in by using air transport and this operation was observed by Viet Minh from the mountains. The French troops were inexperienced in operating in the terrain of Dien Bien Phu.
Another cause of of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu was the Viet Minh mobilisation. Giap mobilised about 50000 combat troops to fight the French. They carried artillery pieces to the battle on their backs or by push-bike. General Navarre was only prepared to fight a force of about 20000 men. And what he didn’t know was that the Viet Minh had brought hugely superior artillery firepower with them.
Another cause of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu was French colonialism. France had occupied Indochina since 1858 and they had treated the Vietnamese harshly. The Vietnamese farmers had to give all their profits to the French and if they did not meet the quota set by the French, they were punished. The French treated the Vietnamese as ignorant savages with no pride which caused the Vietnamese to feel humiliated and shamed. The treatment of the Vietnamese by the French sowed the seeds for revolt against the French and ultimately the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.
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