The Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) was a military component of the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam (commonly known as South Vietnam). After the fall of Saigon, it was dissolved, and hundreds of thousands of its members was sent to reeducation camps by the communist government. Fair Use confirmed from http://www. ... Jump to: navigation, search Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809km² N/A Population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ... The Fall of Saigon, (known also as the Liberation of Saigon) on April 30, 1975, saw the capture of the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon, by the North Vietnamese Army. ... Reeducation camp is the official name given to the prison camps operated by the government of Vietnam following the end of the Vietnam War. ...

National Army of Vietnam

On March 8, 1949, after the signing of the Elysee accord Vietnam was recognized as a independent country and its Army was built to fight side by side with the Armed Forces of France against the Communist forces lead by Ho Chi Minh. This force was named the "National Army of Vietnam" and was officered by French trained personnel or French army veterans such as the army's chief of staff, General Nguyen Van Hinh. The French referred to the formation of this organization as the "yellowing" of the French army in Indochina. Jump to: navigation, search March 8 is the 67th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (68th in Leap years). ... Jump to: navigation, search 1949 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... Communism - Wikipedia /**/ @import /w/skins-1. ... Jump to: navigation, search Hồ Chí Minh Hồ Chí Minh (meaning Ho, Enlightened Will) (Chữ nôm: 胡志明)listen ▶(?) (May 19, 1890 – September 2, 1969) was a Vietnamese revolutionary and statesman, who later became Prime Minister (1954) and President (1954 - 1969) of North Vietnam. ...

In 1952, Vietnamese forces were made up of sixty battalions however they never played a significant role in the French war against the VietMinh. The French used them mostly to garrison sectors they considered unimportant, to free up French forces for significant operations. They were, for example, used in such a way to man the "DeLattre Line" while French troops made attacks in North Vietnam. A small number fought at the battle of Dien Bien Phu where they famously went into action singing the French national anthem. Generally, there was not much incentive for public support of this French controlled army. Desertions were high and their equipment was often sub-standard, with all of the best material going to the French units. According to the Geneva Accord was signed on July 20, 1954 the army was disbanded and only a militia allowed to remain. Jump to: navigation, search 1952 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... In military terminology, a battalion consists of two to six companies typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel. ... Dien Bien Phu (Điện Biên Phủ) is a small town in northwestern Vietnam in the province of Dien Bien. ... 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. ... Jump to: navigation, search July 20 is the 201st day (202nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 164 days remaining. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1954 was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

ARVN

On October 26, 1956, the military was reorganized by the administration of President Ngo Dinh Diem who then established the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. Early on, the focus of the army was the Communist guerrillas of the Viet Cong, a shadow government formed to oppose the Diem administration. The United States, under President John F. Kennedy sent advisors and a great deal of financial support to aid ARVN in combating the Communist insurgents. A major campaign, developed by Ngo Dinh Nhu and later resurrected under another name was the "Strategic Hamlet Program" which was unsuccessful. ARVN and President Diem began to be criticized by the foreign press when the troops were used to crush anti-government religious groups like the Cao Dai and Hoa Hao as well as to raid Buddhist temples, which Diem claimed were harboring Communist guerillas. Jump to: navigation, search 1956 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search Ngô Đình Diệm Ngô Đình Diệm Jean Baptiste (吳廷琰, approximately pronounced Ngoh Din Yimlisten ▶(?)) (January 3, 1901 – November 2, 1963) was the first President of the Republic of Vietnam (1955–63). ... A Viet Cong soldier, heavily guarded, awaits interrogation following capture in the attacks on Saigon during the festive Tet holiday period of 1968. ... Jump to: navigation, search John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to as Jack Kennedy or JFK, was the 35th President of the United States (1961–1963). ... Ngo Dinh Nhu Ngo Dinh Nhu was born in Vietnam, he was the younger brother and chief political advisor of South Vietnams first President Ngo Dinh Diem and their brother Bishop Thuc of Hue. ... Tay Ninh Holy See Cao Dai (Cao Đài) is a new, monotheistic religion, founded in southern Vietnam in 1926. ... Hoa Hao Buddhism is a religious tradition founded in 1939 by Prophet Huynh Phu So, a native of the Mekong River Delta region of southern Vietnam. ... Statues of Buddha such as this, the Tian Tan Buddha statue in Hong Kong, remind followers to practice right living. ...

In 1963 Ngo Dinh Diem was killed in a coup d'etat carried out by ARVN officers. In the confusion that followed, General Duong Van Minh took control, but was only the first in a succession of ARVN generals to assume the presidency of South Vietnam. During these years, the United States began taking full control of the war against the Communists and the role of the ARVN became less and less significant. They were also plagued by continuing problems of severe corruption among the officer corps. Although the U.S. was highly critical of them, the ARVN continued to be entirely U.S. armed and funded. Jump to: navigation, search 1963 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search Ngô Đình Diệm Ngô Đình Diệm Jean Baptiste (吳廷琰, approximately pronounced Ngoh Din Yimlisten â–¶(?)) (January 3, 1901 – November 2, 1963) was the first President of the Republic of Vietnam (1955–63). ... DÆ°Æ¡ng Văn Minh (February 16, 1916–August 5, 2001), known popularly as Big Minh, led the South Vietnamese army under Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem. ... Jump to: navigation, search Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809km² N/A Population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ...

Final Campaigns

Starting in 1969 President Richard M. Nixon started the process of "Vietnamization" pulling out American forces and rendering the ARVN capable of fighting an effective war against the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) of the North and the allied Viet Cong. Slowly, ARVN began to expand from its pacification role to become the primary ground defense against the Viet Cong and PAVN. From 1969-1971 there were about 22,000 ARVN combat deaths per year. Starting in 1968, South Vietnam began calling up every available man for service in the ARVN, reaching a strength of a million soldiers by 1972. In 1970 they performed well in Cambodia and were executing three times as many operations as they had during the American war period. However, the officer corps was still the biggest problem. Leaders were often poorly trained, inept and the equipment continued to sub-standard as the U.S. tried to upgrade ARVN technology. Order: 37th President Vice President: Spiro Agnew (1969–1973), Gerald R. Ford (1973–1974) Term of office: January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974 Preceded by: Lyndon B. Johnson Succeeded by: Gerald R. Ford Date of birth: January 9, 1913 Place of birth: Yorba Linda, California Date of death: April 22... The Peoples Army of Vietnam (PAVN) is the term used by the Vietnamese for their army, which during the Vietnam War (1961–1975) was known as the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), or Army of North Vietnam. ...

Relations with the public also remained poor as their only counter to Communist infiltration was to resurrect the "Strategic Hamlet" program, which the peasants resented. Disapproving Americans called this "barbed wire diplomacy". However, forced to carry the burden left by the Americans, the South Vietnamese army actually started to perform rather well and in 1970 was clearly winning the war against the Communists, though with continued American air support. The exhaustion of the North was becoming evident and the Paris talks gave some hope of a negotiated peace if not a victory.

The most crucial moment of truth for the ARVN came with General Vo Nguyen Giap's 1972 "Easter Offensive", the first all out invasion of South Vietnam by the Communist North. The assault combined infantry wave assaults, artillery and the first massive use of tanks by the North Vietnamese. ARVN took heavy losses, but to the surprise of many, managed to hold on and stand their ground. The Communists took Quang Tri province and areas along the Lao and Khmer borders. General Vo Nguyen Giap (Quoc Ngu: Võ Nguyên Giáp, Chu Nom: 武元甲 - Võ is his family name) (born 1912) is a Vietnamese four-star general, who was the military leader of the Viet Minh guerrilla group under Hồ Chí Minhs political leadership, and of the Peoples Army of...

President Richard Nixon dispatched more bombers to provide air support for ARVN when it seemed that South Vietnam was about to be overrun. In desperation, President Nguyen Van Thieu fired the incompetent General Lam and replaced him with ARVN's best commander, General Ngo Quang Truong. He gave the order that all deserters would be executed and pulled enough forces together so that the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) failed to take Hue. Finally, with considerable U.S. air and naval support, as well as some surprising determination by the ARVN soldiers, the Easter Offensive was halted. ARVN counter-attacked and ultimately succeeded in driving the NVA out of South Vietnam, though they did retain control of northern Quang Tri province near the DMZ. Jump to: navigation, search Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the thirty-seventh President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. ... President Nguyen Van Thieu Nguyen Van Thieu (Nguyễn Văn Thiệu,Chu Nom: 阮文紹), (April 5, 1923 – September 29, 2001) was a former General and President of South Vietnam. ...

By 1973 and 1974 the United States had almost completely retreated from Vietnam and ARVN was left to fight alone, though with massive technological support, having roughly 4x as many heavy weapons as their enemies. This was deceptive, however, as U.S. aid was continuously cut while the North Vietnamese were able to expand their forces and logistics with Soviet and Chinese support.

In 1975, after the end of American involvement, the NVA again invaded the south. This time, the ARVN collapsed in a total panic. Thieu had ordered a withdrawal from Northern areas which caused massive panic and few of the forces there survived. City after city fell to the Communists with ARVN soldiers joining the civilians trying to flee south. The North called this the "Ho Chi Minh Campaign". All resistance crumbled. General Cao Van Vien, ARVN chief of staff, ordered his men to fight to the death, then quickly fled the country. The ARVN tried to defend Xuan Loc, their last chance before Saigon. Even according to the Communists, these men fought very well, but it was not enough. Xuan Loc was taken and on April 30, 1975, initiated the Fall of Saigon the Communists captured the city, placing the Viet Cong flag over the Independence Palace. General Duong Van Minh, recently appointed president by Tran Van Huong, surrendered the city and government bringing the Republic of Vietnam and also the Army of the Republic of Vietnam to a final end. Jump to: navigation, search Hồ Chí Minh Hồ Chí Minh (meaning Ho, Enlightened Will) (Chữ nôm: 胡志明)listen â–¶(?) (May 19, 1890 – September 2, 1969) was a Vietnamese revolutionary and statesman, who later became Prime Minister (1954) and President (1954 - 1969) of North Vietnam. ... Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh) is the largest city in Vietnam and, as Saigon (Vietnamese: Sài Gòn), was the capital of South Vietnam from 1954 to 1976. ... The Fall of Saigon, (known also as the Liberation of Saigon) on April 30, 1975, saw the capture of the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon, by the North Vietnamese Army. ... DÆ°Æ¡ng Văn Minh (February 16, 1916–August 5, 2001), known popularly as Big Minh, led the South Vietnamese army under Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem. ... President Trần Văn Hương Tran Van Huong (Chữ Nôm:陈文香) was born in 1902-(d. ... National motto: ??? Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809km² N/A population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ...

Notable ARVN generals

• Nguyen Cao Ky
• Duong Van Minh
• Tran Van Minh
• Nguyen Khanh
• Nguyen Van Thieu
• Ngo Quang Truong
• Nguyen Van Hieu
• Nguyen Ngoc Loan
• Nguyen Viet Thanh
• Nguyen Khoa Nam

Nguyen Cao Ky (Vietnamese: Nguyá»…n Cao Kỳ, Chinese: 阮高祺/阮高其) (born 1930) is a Vietnamese politician, who served as Prime Minister of South Vietnam from 1965 to 1967, and then Vice President until his retirement from politics in 1971. ... DÆ°Æ¡ng Văn Minh (February 16, 1916–August 5, 2001), known popularly as Big Minh, led the South Vietnamese army under Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem. ... General Tran Van Minh (Trần Văn Minh) was born on August 19, 1923 in Saigon, Vietnam. ... Jump to: navigation, search Nguyá»…n Khánh General Nguyá»…n Khánh (Chu Nom: 阮慶) was born November 8, 1927, at Tra Vinh Province, Vietnam. ... President Nguyen Van Thieu Nguyen Van Thieu (Nguyễn Văn Thiệu,Chu Nom: 阮文紹), (April 5, 1923 – September 29, 2001) was a former General and President of South Vietnam. ... General Ngo Quang Truong General Ngo Quang Truong was born in 1923, Vietnam. ... General Nguyen Van Hieu was born in Tientsin, China. ... General Nguyen Ngoc Loan General Nguyen Ngoc Loan (Nguyá»…n Ngọc Loan/阮玉湾) (1931 - July 14, 1998) was the Republic of Vietnams Chief of Police. ... General Nguyen Viet Thanh General Nguyen Viet Thanh was born in 1931, Dalat, Vietnam. ... General Nguyen Khoa Nam was born on 23 September 1927, Da Nang, Vietnam. ...

External links

• VNAF The South Vietnamese Air Force - Không Quân Việt Nam Cộng Hòa
• Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Reunion 2003
• Vietnam War Bibliography: The ARVN and the RVN
• History of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
• Hue Massacre Tet Offensive Photos
• Liberation of Giai Phong Dan Toi from Communist Viet Cong by Army of the Republic of Vietnam: Photos
• The Battle for Hue, 1968 by James H. Willbanks
• An account of the Vietnam War in a ARVN's soldiers own words
• ARVN Interviews
• Interview with ARVN, Ban Van Nguyen