Why Did the French Leave Vietnam in 1954? (AQA GCSE History): Revision Note

Summary

At the end of World War II, France attempted to regain control of its former colony of Vietnam. This attempt failed, despite enormous financial support from the USA. With France defeated, the Vietnamese independence leader, Ho Chi Minh, hoped to lead a free and unified country.

Instead, the country was divided into two. The north was governed by communist leader Ho Chi Minh and the south was governed by the anti-communist leader Ngo Dinh Diem. 

The government of the north was backed by the USSR and China, whilst the south was supported by the USA. Any conflict between the two Vietnamese governments would lead to the involvement of the two superpowers (USA and USSR).

French rule in Vietnam

• From the 18th century until World War II, Vietnam had been part of the French Empire

  • Along with the modern states of Laos and Cambodia, it formed what became known as French Indochina

  • France increased its wealth by extracting raw materials such as coal, zinc and rubber from these countries and selling them

  • The sale of French-manufactured goods in Indochina further increased the wealth of France

• During World War II, France was conquered by Nazi Germany and Japan invaded the countries of Indochina

  • Japan stripped the region of its natural resources and took food to feed its own population

  • This resulted in nearly 2 million Vietnamese people starving to death

• Vietnamese nationalism flourished under the Japanese occupation, and the Vietnamese Independence League (or Vietminh) fought to free the country

  • The Vietminh was led by two communists, Ho Chi Minh and Nguyen Vo Giap

  • When Japan surrendered to America at the end of World War II, the Vietminh declared Vietnam to be an independent country and Ho Chi Minh its president

• France refused to accept this and was determined to rebuild its empire and economy after the humiliation of World War II

  • The French sent an army to recapture Vietnam and fought a war against the Vietminh from 1946 to 1954

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Dien Bien Phu

• Once communists took control of neighbouring China in 1949, they began to supply the Vietminh with weapons and equipment

  • Vietminh fighters were also trained by experienced Chinese soldiers

  • The Vietminh waged a guerrilla war against France

  • They would use hit-and-run tactics and disappear into Vietnam’s vast and dense jungles

• The USA became alarmed at China’s involvement in Vietnam and decided to support France in its struggle 

  • Between 1950 and 1954, the USA spent US$3 billion on France’s war with the Vietminh

  • Over 80% of France’s weaponry and vehicles were supplied by America

• Frustrated by the Vietminh’s tactics, in 1954 the French decided to try and force a decisive battle

  • The plan was to build a fortified base in a remote region that would act as bait and draw the Vietminh out of hiding

  • Once the Vietminh attacked and exposed themselves, the French planned to use their heavy artillery and air power to destroy them

• The French built the fortified base at Dien Bien Phu in northern Vietnam and sent 10,000 troops to protect it

  • The plan was a disaster for France

• The Vietminh destroyed Dien Bien Phu’s runway and completely surrounded the base

  • This siege meant the troops could not be resupplied with food, water, ammunition or medical supplies

  • The base was then relentlessly bombarded with Chinese-supplied artillery and rockets

• The siege lasted 57 days until the French finally surrendered

  • Around 3,000 French troops had been killed, and thousands were injured

  • Many more died as they marched to prisoner-of-war camps after the surrender

• The Prime Minister of France resigned after the defeat

  • France’s Parliament voted overwhelmingly to remove the country's troops from Indochina

• The French colonial rule of Vietnam had come to an end

Geneva Agreement, 1954

• After the French decision to leave Vietnam, the leaders of the USA, USSR, Britain, France, China and Vietnam all met in the Swiss city of Geneva to decide Vietnam’s future

  • Vietnam was represented by both Ho Chi Minh and members of the pro-French government that had ruled in the south of the country

• Everyone agreed that elections should be held before July 1956 to choose a government for the whole of Vietnam

  • In the meantime, it was also agreed that Vietnam should be divided along the 17th parallel

    • The north was to be governed by Ho Chi Minh

    • The south was to be governed by Ngo Dinh Diem

  • The Vietnamese people were free to choose to live in North or South Vietnam

• Much like in Korea, Vietnam had been divided into two

• Just like President Truman was concerned about communism in Korea, President Eisenhower, was concerned that communists were about to take over the whole of Vietnam

  • In January 1955, American military equipment started to arrive in South Vietnam

• The planned elections never occurred

  • Eisenhower was determined to help support the unpopular Diem and “contain” communism in the north of the country

  • China and the USSR were determined to support Ho Chi Minh and his Communist government

• Vietnam was about to become the next Cold War flashpoint