Battle of Hoa Binh
Part of First Indochina War
Date November 10, 1951-February 25, 1952 Location Hoa Binh, Vietnam Result Vietnamese Victory
Combatants
France	Vietnam
Commanders
Gen. Jean de Lattre de Tassigny Gen. Raoul Salan Gen. Gonzales de Linares	Gen. Võ Nguyên Giáp
Casualties
436 killed, 2,060 wounded and 458 missing.	3,455 killed, 7,000 wounded and 307 captured.

The Battle of Hoa Binh was fought during the First Indochina War. It occurred from November 10, 1951 to February 25, 1952 when French Union forces attempted to lure the Viet Minh out in the open and fight on French terms. Combatants French Colonialists Việt Minh Strength 500,000  ? Casualties 94,581 dead 78,127 wounded 40,000 captured 300,000+ dead 500,000+ wounded 100,000 captured The First Indochina War (also called the French Indochina War, the French War or the Franco-Vietnamese War) was fought in Indochina... November 10 is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 51 days remaining. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Hoa Binh is a city in Vietnam. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Vietnam. ... Jean de Lattre de Tassigny (February 2, 1889 - January 11, 1952) was a French military hero of World War II. Born at Mouilleron-en-Pareds (during the time of Georges Clemenceau, who was also born there), he graduated from school in 1911, and fought in World War I. He specialized... clarified and proofread. ... General Võ Nguyên Giáp (born circa 1912[1]) Vietnamese general and statesman. ... Combatants French Colonialists Việt Minh Strength 500,000  ? Casualties 94,581 dead 78,127 wounded 40,000 captured 300,000+ dead 500,000+ wounded 100,000 captured The First Indochina War (also called the French Indochina War, the French War or the Franco-Vietnamese War) was fought in Indochina... The military operation codenamed Lèa was an attempt of the french colonial forces in Indochina to capture the communist leaders of the vietnamese movement for independence (Viet Minh), which started on October 7th, 1947 and was unsuccessfully finished at December 22, 1947. ... Combatants France Vietnam Commanders Gen. ... Combatants France Vietnam Commanders Jean de Lattre de Tassigny Võ Nguyên Giáp Strength 9,000 20,000 Casualties Unknown; but light 6,000 dead 8,000 wounded 500 captured The Battle of Vinh Yen, occurring from January 13, 1951 to January 17, 1951, was a major engagement in... Combatants France Vietnam Commanders Jean de Lattre de Tassigny Võ Nguyên Giáp Strength 400 3 destroyers 2 landing craft 10,000 Casualties 40 killed 150 wounded 3,000 The Battle of Mao Khe, occuring from March 23, 1951 to March 28, 1951, was a significant engagement in the... Combatants France, Vietnam (loyalist), Hmong mercenaries Vietnam (Viet Minh), Chinese consultants Commanders Christian de Castries, Pierre Langlais # Vo Nguyen Giap Strength As of March 13: 10,800[1] As of March 13: 48,000 combat personnel, 15,000 logistical support personnel[2] Casualties 2,293 dead, 5,195 wounded, 11... Combatants France Vietnam Commanders Pierre Chasse Tui Bin Strength 2,500 troops Unknown Casualties 1,200 killed and wounded Unknown The Battle of Mang Yang Pass was a battle in the First Indochina War. ... Combatants French Colonialists Việt Minh Strength 500,000  ? Casualties 94,581 dead 78,127 wounded 40,000 captured 300,000+ dead 500,000+ wounded 100,000 captured The First Indochina War (also called the French Indochina War, the French War or the Franco-Vietnamese War) was fought in Indochina... November 10 is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 51 days remaining. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Viet Minh (abbreviated from Việt Nam ộc Lập ồng Minh Hội, League for the Independence of Vietnam) was formed by Ho Ngoc Lam and Nguyen Hai Than in 1941 to seek independence for Vietnam from France. ...

Following the string of victories during the early months of 1951 the French command under General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny sought to go back on the offensive. After the French victory at the battle of Dong Trieu, de Lattre had drawn up a plan to test his offensive strategy. Jean de Lattre de Tassigny (February 2, 1889 - January 11, 1952) was a French military hero of World War II. Born at Mouilleron-en-Pareds (during the time of Georges Clemenceau, who was also born there), he graduated from school in 1911, and fought in World War I. He specialized...

Hoa Binh was selected by General de Lattre for the offensive, capital of the Muong tribe located 62km from Hanoi. Hoa Binh was an area of strategic significance for many reasons. For the Viet Minh, the control of Hoa Binh would allow them free movement in the valleys north of Hanoi as well as the flow of arm supplies. As part of his plan de Lattre's forces would take Hoa Binh, where Giap's regular divisions would be forced to confront superior French firepower and eventually destroyed. Hoa Binh is a city in Vietnam. ... Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Ná»™i)  , estimated population 3,058,000(2004), is the capital of Vietnam. ... Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Ná»™i)  , estimated population 3,058,000(2004), is the capital of Vietnam. ...

Phase I & II

On November 10, 1951, Operation Tulipe was launched with the objective of seizing Cho Ben Pass and extend French control beyond Provincial Route 21. November 10 is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 51 days remaining. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ...

After the French Task Force North and the 1st Foreign Legion Paratroop Battalion (1st BEP) had linked up west of Cho Ben, they both continued the thrust while other mobile groups were moving in from the south and the east. At this point the Viet Minh were forced to abandoned Cho Ben, but heavy fighting occurred between the French and elements of the Viet Minh that included the 64th Regiment and 164th Regional Battalion. By the end of the day the French Union forces had achieved their objective with Mobile Group 2 and 1st Colonial Parachute Battalion (1st BPC) reaching their target north of Cho Ben.

With the completion of the first phase de Lattre planned his next move. Realising the difficult task of phase two, de Lattre divided French Union armies into three operational groups, together they would capture Hoa Binh by land, sea and air. Mobile Group 7, as part of Group North, would move southward along the Black River with a riverine unit. Group South, which consists of Mobile Group 3, would link up with paratroop battalions in Hoa Binh. Mobile Group 2 would form an operational liaison group for the other two Mobile Groups. Black River is a common name for streams and communities around the world, as well as the Spanish and Portuguese translation for Rio Negro. ...

By the early hours of November 14 both Operational Group North and South had reached their initial objectives. On the morning of November 14, the 1st Colonial Parachute Battalion (1st BPC), the 2nd Colonial Parachute Battalion (2st BPC) and the 7th Colonial Parachute Battalion (7th BPC) captured Hoa Binh with ease against little or no resistance from the Viet Minh. November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining until the end of the year. ... November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining until the end of the year. ...

Mobile Group 3 took the lead in the clearing operations along Colonial Route 6, while Mobile Group 3 linked up with the three paratroop battalions after crossing the Black River. By November 22 the operation was over with the French Union troops suffering light casualties. November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Giap's counterattack

On November 21, General Vo Nguyen Giap decided to deal with the French by ordering his 304th and 312th Divisions from the Red River. The two divisions were ordered to prepare for Hoa Binh. November 21 is the 325th day of the year (326th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... General Võ Nguyên Giáp (born circa 1912[1]) Vietnamese general and statesman. ... Red River may refer to the following: Rivers Red River of the North, flows through Minnesota, North Dakota, and Manitoba, in the Red River Valley Red River of the South,, a. ...

French bases at Ap Da Chong, Ap Phu To, Dan The, La Phu, Rocher Notre-Dame, Xom Bu and Tu Vu were places where General Giap's regular divisions would initiate the first challenge. The 304th and 312th Divisions were in position to isolate the Ap Da Chong and cut French communication lines and other strongpoints. Due to the build-up of Viet Minh forces in the area, elements of the 1st Colonial Parachute Battalion were ordered to reinforce Thu Phap.

Between December 10 and December 14 there heavy engagments between the French Union and Viet Minh forces. First, the VM 88th Regiment pounded Tu Vu but were driven off by two Moroccan companies supported by tanks. Then the 165th and 209th Regiments of the Viet Minh 312th Division infiltrated Ba Tri and Ba vi, where they faced Mobile Group 4. The 5th Colonial Paratroops, with support from Sherman tanks, were sent in to remove the Viet Minh. However, a company from the 5th BPC were ambushed by the 165th Regiment and heavy casualties were suffered as a result. December 10 is the 344th day (345th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, 21 days before the next year. ... December 14 is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

On January 11, 1952, General de Lattre passed away at the Neuilly military hospital due to cancer. At the same time, Vo Nguyen Giap began to concentrate his troops on Hoa Binh and Colonial Route 6 as the 304th, 308th and 312th Divisions were been redeployed with fresh reinforcements. January 11 is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... There are many places named Neuilly in France: This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

From the end of 1951 the build up of Viet Minh presence around Colonial Route 6 were noted by French military intelligance. The Viet Minh made no secret of their presence as they regularly attacked French convoys, and conducting sapper attacks on French positions. The new commander of French Union forces, General Gonzales de Linares, planned to take back Colonial Route 6 piece by piece.

Between January 10 and January 29 the French Union armies managed to clear Dong Ben, Xom Pheo, Bai Lang, Xuan Mai, Kem Pass and Ao Trach under heavy Viet Minh pressure. Each time French forces relied upon artillery and close air support to inflict damages on the Viet Minh. On January 30, the Viet Minh went back on the offensive at Suc Sich, where they battled with a company from the 8th Colonial Paratroops. January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 29 is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Although the French army still held Hoa Binh and Colonial Route 6, areas under true French control only extends from Hanoi to Xuan Mai. And manning French outposts between Don Goi and Hoa Binh put heavy pressure on French manpower, where 20,000 troops are tying down. As a result of this, when the Viet Minh 316th and 320th Divisions moved in to replace the other divisions, General Salan decided to withdraw the remaining French forces. And by February 25, 1952, the evacuation of French troops from Hoa Binh were completed. Hoa Binh is a city in Vietnam. ... Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Ná»™i)  , estimated population 3,058,000(2004), is the capital of Vietnam. ... February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Aftermath

From the beginning French Union forces sought to draw the Viet Minh out to fight on French terms, however, they subsequently went on the defensive as General Vo Nguyen Giap continued to put heavy pressure on French positions. Although suffering heavier casualties then their adversaries, the Viet Minh came out victorious.

External Links

The Hoa Binh Campaign