The Battle of Dien Bien Phu (Vietnamese: Chiến dịch Điện Biên Phủ) was the final battle in the First Indochina War between France and Vietnamese revolutionary forces called the Viet Minh (short for Việt Nam Ðộc Lập Ðồng Minh Hội or the League for the Independence of Vietnam). These forces were part of what is referred to as the People's Army of Vietnam. The battle occurred between March and May, 1954, and ended in a massive French defeat that effectively ended the war. Combatants French Republic Viet 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) was fought in Southeast Asia from 1946 through 1954 between the nation of... March 13 is the 72nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (73rd in leap years). ... May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... Dien Bien Phu (Điện Biên Phủ) is a small town in northwestern Vietnam in the province of Điện Biên. ... Christian de la Croix de Castries (August 11, 1902 - July 29, 1991) was the French commander at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954. ... Vo Nguyen Giap General Vo Nguyen Giap (born 1912) is a Vietnamese four-star general, who was the military leader of the Viet Minh guerrilla group under Ho Chi Minhs political leadership, and of the Peoples Army of Vietnam (PAVN) in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. ... March 13 is the 72nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (73rd in leap years). ... March 13 is the 72nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (73rd in leap years). ... Combatants French Republic Viet 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) was fought in Southeast Asia from 1946 through 1954 between the nation of... 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. ... The Peoples Army of Vietnam (PAVN) is the term used by the Vietnamese for their armed forces. ...

The result of a series of blunders in the French decision making process was that the French undertook to create an air-supplied base, at Dien Bien Phu, deep in the hills of Vietnam. Its purpose was to cut off Viet Minh supply lines into Laos. Instead, the Viet Minh, under General Vo Nguyen Giap, were able to surround and besiege the French, who were ignorant of the Viet Minh's possession of heavy artillery and their ability to move such weapons to the mountain crests overlooking the French encampment. Tenacious fighting on the ground ensued, including the use of trench warfare by the Viet Minh. The Viet Minh occupied the highlands around Dien Bien Phu, and were able to fire down accurately onto French positions. The French repeatedly repulsed Viet Minh assaults on their positions, occasionally air-dropping reinforcements in. Ultimately, however, the Viet Minh were able to overrun the base and force the French to surrender. Dien Bien Phu (Điện Biên Phủ) is a small town in northwestern Vietnam in the province of Điện Biên. ... Vo Nguyen Giap General Vo Nguyen Giap (born 1912) is a Vietnamese four-star general, who was the military leader of the Viet Minh guerrilla group under Ho Chi Minhs political leadership, and of the Peoples Army of Vietnam (PAVN) in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. ... A siege is a prolonged military blockade and assault of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by force or attrition. ... Trench Warfare is a form of war in which both opposing armies have static lines of fortifications dug into the ground, facing each other. ...

Following the battle, the war ended with the 1954 Geneva accords. The accords partitioned the country in two; however, the interbellum peace that followed was short-lived. Fighting resumed in 1957 with the Vietnam War (Second Indochina War). The Geneva Conference (April 26 - July 21, 1954) was a conference between many countries that agreed to end hostilities and restore peace in French Indochina and Korea. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) United States of America South Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand the Philippines Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) Strength ~1,200,000 (1968) ~420,000 (1968) Casualties South Vietnamese dead: 230,000 South Vietnamese wounded: 300,000 US dead...

Background and preparations

By 1953, the First Indochina War was not going well for the French. A succession of commanders (Thierry d'Argenlieu, Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, and Raoul Salan) had proven incapable of suppressing the Viet Minh insurrection. Combatants French Republic Viet 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) was fought in Southeast Asia from 1946 through 1954 between the nation of... Georges Thierry dArgenlieu (right) with Brigadier General Alexander M. Patch. ... 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. ...

During their 1952-1953 campaign the Viet Minh had overrun vast swaths of the French colony of Laos, Vietnam's western neighbor. The French proved incapable of slowing down the Viet Minh, who fell back only after outrunning their always-tenuous supply lines.

In 1953, the French had begun to strengthen their defenses in the Hanoi delta region and to prepare for a series of offenses against Viet Minh staging areas in northwest Vietnam. They had set up a number of fortified towns and outposts in the area, including Lai Chau near the Chinese border to the north, Na San to the west of Hanoi, and Luang Prabang and Plaine des Jarres in northern Laos. Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Nội; Han tu: 河内), estimated population 3,083,800 (2004), is the capital of Vietnam and was the capital of North Vietnam from 1954 to 1976. ... USMC convoys staging prior to going north into Iraq in March of 2004 A staging area is a temporary location where military units, aircraft and warships plus their matériel are assembled ahead of an attack or invasion. ... Lai-Chau is a province in northwest Vietnam. ... Royal palace museum of Luang Prabang. ... Jar Site 1 The Plain of Jars is a group of historic cultural sites in Laos containing thousands of stone-like jars, ranging from three feet to 10 feet in height, which lie scattered throughout the Xieng Khouang plain in the Laotian Highlands at the northern end of the Annamese...

That spring, General Giap of the Viet Minh launched a major offensive against Na San. After several days of fierce fighting, the Viet Minh were broken, leaving 1,544 casualties at the base and another 1,932 walking wounded. Vo withdrew most of his forces. In May 1953, French Premier Rene Mayer appointed Henri Navarre, a colleague whom he trusted, to take command of French Forces in Indochina. Mayer had given Navarre a single order - to create military conditions that would lead to an 'honorable political solution'. (Davidson, 165) Mayers Ministry, 8 January - 28 June 1953 René Mayer - President of the Council Henri Queuille - Vice President of the Council Georges Bidault - Minister of Foreign Affairs René Pleven - Minister of National Defense and Armed Forces Charles Brune - Minister of the Interior Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury - Minister of Finance Robert... Henri Navarre (1898 - 1983) was the commander of French forces in Indochina during the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in the First Indochina War. ... Collegiality is the relationship between colleagues. ...

On arrival, Navarre was shocked by what he found. "There had been no long-range plan since de Lattre's departure. Everything was conducted on a day-to-day, reactive basis. Combat operations were undertaken only in response to enemy moves or threats. There was no comprehensive plan to develop the organization and build up the equipment of the Expeditionary force. Finally, Navarre, the intellectual, the cold and professional soldier, was shocked by the 'school's out' attitude of Salan and his senior commanders and staff officers. They were going home, not as victors or heroes, but then, not as clear losers either. To them the important thing was that they were getting out of Indochina with their reputations frayed, but intact. They gave little thought to, or concern for, the problems of their successors." (Davidson, 165) A soldier is a person who has enlisted with, or has been conscripted into, the armed forces of a sovereign country and has undergone training and received equipment (such as a uniform and weapon) to defend that country or its interests. ...

Dien Bien Phu, in Dien Bien Province (shown in green) was sufficiently far from Hanoi, the seat of French military power, that French air transport could not easily keep it supplied

One issue plagued Navarre - did his mission as High Commissioner of Vietnam require him to defend the colony of Laos as well? This would prove to be the most controversial issue surrounding the battle. Laos was far from the French seat of military power in Hanoi. Although Navarre assumed it was his responsibility, defending it would require taking on the grave risk of operating his army at great distance from its home. Navarre had a series of meetings with France's National Defense Committee in July 1953. During a meeting on July 17, Navarre asked for clarification regarding his responsibilities in Vietnam, about whether or not he was responsible for defending northern Laos. On July 24, Navarre met again with the Committee. This meeting produced a great misunderstanding, the most disputed fact of the controversy surrounding the battle. For years afterward, Navarre insisted the committee had reached no consensus; French Premier Joseph Laniel insisted that at that meeting, the Committee had instructed Navarre to abandon Laos if necessary. "On this key issue, the evidence supports Navarre's claim that on July 24, he was given no clear-cut decision regarding his responsibility for Laos. Over the years, when challenged by Navarre, Laniel has never been able to present any written evidence to support his contention that Navarre was instructed to abandon Laos if necessary" (Davidson, 176). In hindsight, the reason for the committee's indecision is obvious. The committee's proceedings leaked to the press constantly. The politicians on the committee were not willing to make a clear statement on a policy decision that would be politically damaging. Map showing the location of a Vietnamese province. ... Map showing the location of a Vietnamese province. ... The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ... Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Nội; Han tu: 河内), estimated population 3,083,800 (2004), is the capital of Vietnam and was the capital of North Vietnam from 1954 to 1976. ... The General secretary for national defence (Secrétariat général de la Défense nationale) is an interministerial organism of the French government which includes the Ministries of the Interior, of Foreign Affairs and of Defence. ... July 17 is the 198th day (199th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 167 days remaining. ... July 24 is the 205th day (206th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 160 days remaining. ... Joseph Laniel, French prime minister Joseph Laniel (1889-1975) was a French politician of the Fourth Republic, who served as Prime Minister for a year from 1953 to 1954. ... NewS (NEWS) is a J-pop group from Johnny & Associates, which also produced groups such as SMAP, TOKIO, Kinki Kids and Tackey & Tsubasa. ...

Simultaneously, Navarre had been searching for a way to stop the Viet Minh threat to Laos. Colonel Louis Berteil, commander of Mobile Group 7, formulated one, the "herisson" (hedgehog) concept. The French army would establish a fortified airhead by air-lifting soldiers adjacent to a key Viet Minh supply line to Laos (Davidson, 173). This would effectively cut off Viet Minh soldiers fighting in Laos, and force them to withdraw. Genera This article is about the spiny mammal. ... This article is about a military term. ...

In June, Major general René Cogny, commander of the Tonkin Delta, had proposed Dien Bien Phu as a "mooring point". In another misunderstanding, Cogny had envisioned a lightly defended point from which to launch raids, however, to Navarre, this meant a heavily fortified base capable of withstanding a siege. Navarre selected Dien Bien Phu for the location of Bertiel's "hedgehog". When presented with it, every major subordinate officer protested - Colonel Jean Nicot, (commander of the French Air transport fleet), Cogny, and generals Gilles and Dechaux (the ground and air commanders for CASTOR, the initial airborn assault on Dien Bien Phu). Navarre rejected the criticisms of his proposal, and concluded a November 17 conference by declaring the operation would commence three days later, on November 20, 1953. (Davidson, 184) Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Tonkin, also spelled Tongkin or Tongking, is the northernmost part of Vietnam, south of Chinas Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces, east of northern Laos, and west of the Gulf of Tonkin. ... November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1953 calendar). ...

Navarre decided to go ahead with the operation, despite the obvious operational difficulties, because he had been repeatedly assured by his intelligence officers that the operation had very little risk of involvement by a strong enemy force. (Davidson, 189) Navarre had previously considered three other ways to defend Laos: Mobile warfare, which was impossible given the terrain in Vietnam; a linear defense line stretching to Laos, which was impossible given the number of troops at Navarre's disposal; or placing troops in the Laotian capitals and supplying them by air, which was made impossible by the distance from Hanoi to Luang Prabang and Vientiane (Davidson, 186). Thus, the only option left to Navarre was the hedgehog option, which he characterized as "a mediocre solution". (Davidson, 187) The US M1A1 Abrams tank is a typical modern main battle tank. ... Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Nội; Han tu: 河内), estimated population 3,083,800 (2004), is the capital of Vietnam and was the capital of North Vietnam from 1954 to 1976. ... Royal palace museum of Luang Prabang. ... Pha That Luang temple. ...

In a sad twist of fate, the French National Defense Committee ultimately did agree that Navarre's responsibility did not include defending Laos. However, their decision (which was drawn up on November 13) was not delivered to him until December 4, two weeks after the Dien Bien Phu operation began. (Davidson, 176) November 13 is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 48 days remaining. ... December 4 is the 338th day (339th on leap years) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Experience at Nan Sanh

Nan Sanh was an early successful experiment in hedgehog defense which convinced Navarre of the viability of the fortified airhead concept. It was essentially a fortified camp supplied only by air. It was hoped that by repeating the setup on a larger scale the French would be able to bait Giap into committing the bulk of his forces in a massed assault. This would enable superior French artillery, armor and air support to wipe out Viet Minh forces on open ground. Unfortunately, French staff officers failed to take into consideration several important differences between Dien Bien Phu and Nan Sanh.

First, at Nan Sanh the French commanded almost all of the high grounds and enjoyed overwhelming artillery support. At Dien Bien Phu however, the situation was reversed: the Viet Minh controlled much of the high grounds around the valley and their artillery outnumbered the French by a ratio of four-to-one. Giap compared Dien Bien Phu to a "rice bowl", where his troops occupy the edge and the French occupy the bottom.

Second, Giap made a mistake in Nan Sanh by committing his forces into reckless frontal attacks before preparations could be made. At Dien Bien Phu, Giap would spend months stockpiling ammunitions and emplacing heavy artillery and anti-aircraft guns before making his move. Teams of Viet Minh volunteers were sent into the French camp in order to note the disposition of the French artillery. Wooden artillery pieces were built for camouflage and the real guns were rotated every few salvos to confuse French counterbattery fire. As a result, when the battle began, the Viet Minh knew exactly where the French artillery were while the French were not even aware of how many guns Giap possessed.

Third, and most importantly, the airbridge at Nan Sanh was never severed despite Viet Minh anti-aircraft fire. At Dien Bien Phu, Giap amassed a staggering amount of anti-aircraft batteries that quickly shut down the runway and made it prohibitively costly for the French to bring in reinforcement. Airbridge was an early 1980s British Progressive Rock band featuring: Lorenzo Bedini (Guitar, Keyboard, Vocals); Edward Percival (Guitar, Keyboard, Vocals); Sean Godfrey (Bass, Vocals) & David Beckett (Drums). ...

Operation Castor and the establishment of the airhead

René Cogny (holding the cane), Christian de Castries (next to Cogny, hatless), and Henri Navarre (next to Castries, seated)

Operations at Dien Bien Phu began at 10:35 on the morning of November 20, 1953. In Operation Castor, the French dropped or flew 9,000 troops into the area over three days. They were landed at three drop zones - Natasha (northwest of Dien Bien Phu), Octavie (southwest of Dien Bien Phu), and Simone (southeast of Dien Bien Phu). Image File history File links Cogny_Castries_Navarre. ... Image File history File links Cogny_Castries_Navarre. ... Christian de la Croix de Castries (August 11, 1902 - July 29, 1991) was the French commander at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954. ... Henri Navarre (1898 - 1983) was the commander of French forces in Indochina during the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in the First Indochina War. ... November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1953 calendar). ...

The Viet Minh elite 148^th Independent Infantry Regiment, headquartered at Dien Bien Phu, reacted "instantly and effectively", however, three of their four battalions were absent that day (Davidson, 193). Initial operations proceeded well for the French. By the end of November, six parachute batallions had been landed and the French were consolidating their positions.

It was at this time that Giap began his counter-moves. Giap had expected an attack, but could not forsee when or where it would occur. Giap realized that if pressed, the French would abandon Lai Chau Province and fight a pitched battle at Dien Bien Phu. On November 24, Giap ordered the 148^th Infantry Regiment and the 316^th division to attack into Lai Chau, and the 308^th, 312^th, and 351^st divisions to attack from Viet Bac into Dien Bien Phu (Davidson, 196). Lai-Chau (Vietnamese: Lai Châu) is a province in northwest Vietnam. ... A pitched battle is a battle were both sides choose to fight at a chosen location and time and where either side has the option to disengage either before the battle starts, or shortly after the first armed exchanges. ...

Starting in December, the French, under the command of Colonel Christian de Castries, started transforming their anchoring point into a fortress by setting up various strongpoints, each one (allegedly) named after a former d'Castries mistress. The center of the fortress had the headquarters with strongpoints "Huguette" to the west, "Claudine" to the south, and "Dominique" to the northeast. Other strongpoints were "Anne-Marie" to the northwest, "Beatrice" to the northeast, "Gabrielle" to the north and "Isabelle" four miles to the south, covering the reserve airstrip. The choice of d'Castries as the on-scene commander at Dien Bien Phu was, in retrospect, a bad one. Navarre had picked d'Castries, a cavalryman in the 18^th century tradition, because Navarre envisioned Dien Bien Phu as a mobile battle. In reality, Dien Bien Phu required someone adept at First World War-style static defense, something for which d'Castries was not suited. (Davidson, 199) Christian de la Croix de Castries (August 11, 1902 - July 29, 1991) was the French commander at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954. ... Kircholm, a 1925 painting by Wojciech Kossak. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ...

The arrival of the 316^th division prompted Cogny to order the evacuation of the Lai Chau garrison to Dien Bien Phu, exactly as Giap had anticipated. En route, they were virtually annihilated by the Viet Minh. "Of the 2,100 men who left Lai Chau on December 9, only 185 made it to Dien Bien Phu on December 22. The rest had been killed or captured or deserted" (Davidson, 203). The Viet Minh troops now converged on Dien Bien Phu. December 22 is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

The French had committed 10,800 troops, with more reinforcements totaling nearly 16,000 men, to the defense of a monsoon-affected valley surrounded by heavily wooded hills that had not been secured^{[citation needed]}. Artillery, as well as ten M-24 light tanks and numerous aircraft were committed to the garrison as well. The garrison comprised French regular troops (notably elite paratroop units plus artillery), Foreign Legionaires, Algerian and Moroccan tirailleurs, and locally recruited Indochinese infantry.

All told, the Viet Minh had moved 50,000 regular troops (Davidson 223) into the hills surrounding the valley, totaling five divisions including the 351^st Heavy Division made up entirely of heavy artillery. Artillery and AA guns, which outnumbered the French artillery by about four to one (Davidson 223-224), were moved into camouflaged positions overlooking the valley. The French came under sporadic Viet Minh artillery fire for the first time on January 31, 1954 and patrols encountered the Viet Minh in all directions. The battle had been joined, and the French were now surrounded. January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Battle

The French disposition at Dien Bein Phu, as of March 1954. The French took up positions on a series of fortified hills (shown in green). The southermost, Isabelle, was dangerously isolated. The Viet Minh positioned their 5 divisions (the 304^th, 308^th, 312^th, 316^th, and 351^st) in the surrounding areas to the north and east. From these areas, the Viet Minh had a clear line of sight on the French fortifications and were able to accurately rain down artillery on the French positions.

Things changed in early March, 1954, when it became clear that an increasing number of Viet Minh (Vietnamese Allied) troops were moving into the area. The battle proper opened on March 13 when, much to the surprise of the French, the Viet Minh unleashed a massive artillery barrage. By the end of the first night 9,000 shells had fallen on the area, and the Beatrice and Gabrielle positions had both fallen, albeit at huge cost to the attackers of over 2,500 men. In a major logistical feat, the Viet Minh had dragged scores of artillery pieces up steeply forested hillsides that the French had written off as impassable. The French artillery commander, Colonel Piroth, distraught at his inability to bring counterfire on the well-camouflaged Viet Minh batteries, went into his dugout and killed himself with a hand grenade. He was buried there in great secrecy to prevent loss of morale among the French troops. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (712x1048, 66 KB) Line drawing of a map of the battle of Dien Bien Phu Created by Raul654 on October 5, 2005 File links The following pages link to this file: Battle of Dien Bien Phu ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (712x1048, 66 KB) Line drawing of a map of the battle of Dien Bien Phu Created by Raul654 on October 5, 2005 File links The following pages link to this file: Battle of Dien Bien Phu ... March 13 is the 72nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (73rd in leap years). ... Historically, artillery refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectiles during war. ... Grenade may refer to: The well-known hand grenade commonly used by soldiers. ...

The French responded by parachuting in reinforcements, but they were fired on by anti-aircraft guns, another surprise on the part of the Viet Minh. Considering the vital need for air supply, this was a troubling development for the defenders of the base. The French also started using their ground attack aircraft against the artillery, but there were not enough to have any real effect, as the guns were well hidden^{[citation needed]}. The Apollo 15 capsule landed safely despite a parachute failure. ... American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft, or air defense, is any method of combating military aircraft from the ground. ... A ground attack aircraft is an aircraft that is designed to operate very close to the ground, supporting infantry and tanks directly in battle. ...

Realizing the importance of the air supply, Giap switched from the costly massed attacks, which were starting to bring his men to a point of mutiny, to a steady encroachment, conducting a web of trenches and artillery bombardments. In addition, the Viet Minh started the process of digging long trenches towards the middle of the camp, covering their movements from direct fire, and allowing for a buildup and assault under cover. The first runway fell after a five-day advance from the 18^th to the 23^rd. The last aircraft landed on the 28^th on the second runway, but was destroyed in the process. The French responded with an offensive of their own on the 28th, attacking anti-aircraft positions. On the 31^st the French recaptured two of the hilltop fortifications, Dominique and Eliane, but later had to evacuate them due to lack of reinforcements.^{[citation needed]} March 18 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (78th in leap years). ... March 23 is the 82nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (83rd in Leap years). ... March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (88th in leap years). ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining. ...

With resupply now entirely by parachute, supply flow started to dwindle. A good portion of the airdropped supplies landed in Viet Minh-controlled areas, giving them much needed matériel. The Vietnamese had essentially won the battle at this point, and they referred to the remainder of the battle as "slowly bleeding the dying elephant". During the last week of April the yearly monsoon arrived, further reducing the effectiveness of any air support that could be given. Trenches became hazards, and bunkers collapsed. The last replacements—4,306 soldiers under Major Marcel Bigeard, parachuted in between March 14 and May 6—did not even make up for the losses suffered between those dates, 5,500. The French launched "Operation Condor" in April to relieve the garrison by sending a relief force from the Laotian capital to the valley. But the force became stalled in the featureless Laotian jungle and the garrison was isolated. A C-130 Hercules airdropping a light tank. ... Matériel (from the French for equipment or hardware, related to the word material) is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management. ... Monsoon in the Vindhya, a mountain chain in central India A monsoon is a (wind) pattern that reverses direction on a seasonal basis. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... March 14 is the 73rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (74th in leap years) with 292 days remaining in the year. ... May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (127th in leap years). ...

The French saw that defeat was imminent, but they sought to hold on till the Geneva peace meeting, which took place on April 26. The last French offensive took place on May 4, but it was ineffective. The Viet Minh then began to hammer the fort with newly acquired Russian rocket artillery. Giap mounted his final assault on May 1. From all sides the Viet Minh troops attacked the French positions and despite fierce resistance from the French garrison (by now consisting primarily of paratroopers and Foreign Legionnaires), Dominique, Eliane and Huguette were overrun over the next three days. By then, the French food rations were down to only five days and many of the troops were low on ammunition. Their hospital, short on medical supplies, was overcrowding with dead and wounded and the French morale was beginning to crack.^{[citation needed]} Geneva (pronunciation //; French: Genève //, German: //, Italian: Ginevra) is the second most populous city in Switzerland, situated where Lake Geneva (French Lac Léman) flows into the Rhône River. ... April 26 is the 116th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (117th in leap years). ... May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... An American Paratrooper using a MC1-B series parachute Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force. ... The French Foreign Legion (French: Légion Étrangère) is a unique unit within the French Army established in 1831. ...

The final fall took two days, May 6^th and 7^th, during which the French fought on but were eventually overrun by a huge frontal assault. The final assault was on May 7, where after another massive Viet Minh artillery barrage, 25,000 of Giap's remaining men attacked the fewer than 3,000 French troops in the shrinking perimeter. The Viet Minh poured into the remaining French defenses and despite determined resistance from the French, the equally determined Viet Minh reached the French headquarters by 17:30 hours and d'Castries surrendered. May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (127th in leap years). ... May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ...

Strongpoint Isabelle held out another 24 hours. On the night of May 7, the garrison at Isabelle made a break out attempt. The main body never got out of the valley, however, about seventy men did escape to join up with the french forces in Laos. (Davidson, 269) May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ...

At least 2,200 members of the 16,000-strong French forces died during the battle. Of the 50,000-100,000 or so Viet Minh involved, there were estimates of nearly 8,000 killed and another 15,000 wounded.^{[citation needed]}

Aftermath

Prisoners

The 11,000 or more prisoners taken at Dien Bien Phu were the greatest number the Viet Minh had ever captured: one-third of the total captured during the entire war. The prisoners were divided into groups. The fit and walking wounded were force-marched over 250 miles to prison camps to the north and east. Hundreds died of disease on the way. The wounded, counted at 4,436, were given basic triage until the Red Cross arrived, removing 838 and giving better aid to the remainder. The remainder was then also sent into detention. This article or section seems not to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia entry. ... The Anarchist Black Cross was originally called the Anarchist Red Cross. The band Redd Kross was originally called Red Cross. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Prison camp was even worse. The survivors of the French garrison at Dien Bien Phu (many of them Legionnaires of German origin) were constantly starved, beaten, and heaped with abuse. Many died. The Viet Minh used the presence of veteran World War II Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS soldiers serving under the Foreign Legion as propaganda against the French cause. About 3,300 malnourished prisoners were released in 1958. North African prisoners were treated somewhat better than their French counterparts in an effort to win them over to the cause of anti-colonialism.^{[citation needed]} Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II... German cavalry and motorized units entering Poland from East Prussia during the Polish Campaign of 1939 Wehrmacht (Defence force) was the name of the armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945. ... Waffen-SS recruitment poster; Volunteer to the Waffen-SS The Waffen-SS was the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel. ... A foreign legion is a military force originally established by a monarch, consisting of foreigners who are not normally subjects of the king. ... It has been suggested that Propaganda in the United States be merged into this article or section. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Political ramifications

The victory by the Viet Minh led to the 1954 Geneva accords, which partitioned Vietnam into communist North Vietnamese and French South Vietnamese administered zones. This partition was supposed to be temporary, and the two zones were supposed to be reunited by national elections in 1956. After the French withdrawal, the U.S. supported the southern government under Emperor Bao Dai as chief of state and his Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem, which opposed the agreement, arguing that Ho Chi Minh from the North had been killing Northern patriots and terrorising people both in the North and the South. This dispute would eventually escalate into the Viet Nam War (Second Indochina War). The Geneva Conference (April 26 - July 21, 1954) was a conference between many countries that agreed to end hostilities and restore peace in French Indochina and Korea. ... Communism - Wikipedia /**/ @import /w/skins-1. ... The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN), or less commonly, Vietnamese Democratic Republic (Vietnamese: Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cá»™ng Hòa), also known as North Vietnam, was proclaimed by Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi, September 2nd1945 and was recognized by the Peoples Republic of China and the... Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809 km² N/A Population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motto: (1789 to 1956) (Latin for Out of many, one) In God We Trust (1956 to present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at federal level; English (de facto) Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice... Emperor Bao Dai Bảo Đại (保大) (October 22, 1913 – July 30, 1997) was the last Emperor of Vietnam, the 13th and last Emperor of the Nguyá»…n Dynasty. ... «ngoh dihn zih-ehm» (January 3, 1901 – November 2, 1963) was the first President of the Republic of Vietnam (1955–63). ... Official portrait of Hồ Chí Minh Hồ Chí Minh (May 19, 1890 – September 2, 1969) was a Vietnamese revolutionary and statesman, who later became Prime Minister (1946-1955) and President (1955-1969) of North Vietnam. ...

The defeat in Indochina seriously damaged French prestige elsewhere in their colonial empire, notably the North African territories from where many of the troops who fought at Dien Bien Phu had been recruited. By 1956 both Morocco and Tunisia had gained independence and a major war for independence had taken hold in Algeria.

In 1992, French director Pierre Schoendoerffer made a documentary film, Diên Biên Phu, which depicts the battle. French director Schoendoerffer, was acclaimed in France at 1973 Cannes Film Festival for his Drum Crab (Le Crabe Tambour) war movie, but he first met success with his 1965 The 317th Platoon (La 317e Section) Indochina War feature. ... Diên Biên Phu (French for Điện Biên Phủ) is a 1992 film written and directed by French veteran Pierre Schoendoerffer (aka Pierre Schöndörffer). ...

References

• Davidson, Phillip B. Vietnam at War. Oxford University Press, New York. ISBN 0195067924
• Charles Maisonneuve. Dien Bien Phu. edition Lariviere , Paris.

Phillip B. Davidson, Jr. ...

External links

• DienBienPhu.org in English
• Memorial-Indochine.org in English
• An interview with Vo Nguyen Giap