War’s End

1972 Year began calmly.

– U.S. moved toward friendly relations with China and Soviets.

Hoped to use relationship to put pressure on Hanoi.

– Only 140,000 troops remained, of which only 20,000 were combat units.

Giap however, planned the biggest offensive to date.– March 30, heavily armed PAVN

troops cross border (Nguyen Hue Offensive) (Easter Offensive).

Allied commanders had expected an attack, not sure when or where.

– Within a few weeks, situation critical with PAVN forces over-running ARVN forces in north.

– Thieu forced to replace commanders, in late June they counter-attack.

Supported by U.S. naval gunfire, air strikes, and B-52 bombing raids.

– Central Highlands defended with help of John Paul Vann, important to prevent bisection of South Vietnam.

Again U.S. support saved ARVN forces.

– In the south, fierce fighting also raged.– Key to victory again U.S. air power.– Nixon ordered air campaign against

North Vietnam (Operation Linebacker) to send a message and to cut off supplies.

Late April, Kissinger insisted the Soviets put pressure on Hanoi to preserve an upcoming U.S.-Soviet summit.– Kissinger held secret meeting with

North Vietnam on May 2.North Vietnam rejected

negotiations.– Nixon ordered massive bombing, a naval

blockade of the north, and mined Haiphong Harbor.

Neither China or Soviets reacted, isolated Hanoi.

As Easter Offensive ended in Sept., Nixon’s political stock rose.– Appeared that ARVN had cut off the

invasion.In reality, many of the same problems

still existed, U.S. air power had saved the day.

– Vietnamization continued.August 22nd, last U.S. ground combat

forces left.

Hanoi began to think about negotiated settlement.– Nixon would be re-elected, they could get

better terms before the election than after a landslide.

– They were getting no support from China or Soviets who wont risk Détente with the U.S.

– Had been severely damaged by bombing and their army decimated in Easter Offensive (100,000 killed, most tanks and artillery destroyed).

Peace Talks Began September 1972,

settlement reached in 6 weeks.– Within 60 days, all U.S. troops would leave

South Vietnam and Hanoi would return all U.S. POW’s.

– South Vietnam would recognize communist movement and Hanoi would recognize Thieu government.

Thieu, communists, and a third party would create elections to determine future of South Vietnam.

– PAVN troops in south at the time could remain.

Kissinger delivered agreement to Thieu.– He refused to accept.

Nixon also concerned about long term survival of South Vietnam, he agreed with Thieu.

NVA upset as Kissinger proposed changes.– Reject new proposals.– Kissinger warns retaliation by Nixon

(good cop-bad cop).

Talks broke off December 13th.– December 18th, Operation Linebacker II

began.Largest bombing campaign of the war.Targeted areas devastated.

December 28, Hanoi resumed talks to end bombing.– January 27, 1973, Peace Accords

signed.

Peace Accords Terms.

– Immediate ceasefire.– U.S. removes remaining military

forces and ends offensive actions.

– Hanoi returns all U.S. POW’s.

– 150,000 NVA soldiers in south remain.

– International commission set up to enforce ceasefire.

– Election would be held to determine future government of south.

– South Vietnam declared free and independent, reunification with north would be gradual, peaceful, and without coercion.

War Continued

Nixon had announced “peace with honor”, U.S. could now get out.– Agreement broken almost immediately.

War continued without the U.S.– Nixon could not support

Thieu government because of Watergate.

– Congress passed War Powers Act which severely limited the President’s power to make war.

By the end of 1974, U.S. had all but abandoned South Vietnam.

Laos and Cambodia Ceasefire in Laos followed the Peace

Accords.– Beginning in September, 1973, a coalition

government ruled Laos, increasingly dominated by the communist Pathet Lao.

Lon Nol and the Khmer Rouge fight in Cambodia.– Early 1974, Khmer

Rouge threatened the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.

1974

Military balance in South Vietnam turned in favor of the communists.

Economy in south wrecked without U.S. aid.

Military aid also cut off. December 1974, Hanoi planned for a final

offensive.

End March 10, 1975, PAVN forces

invaded south again.

– Thieu abandoned north and Central Highlands to defend the south.

– Refugees flee south.

– Mid-April, NVA units approached Saigon.

– April 17, Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia.

– April 21, Thieu resigned.– April 27, communists

launched attack on Saigon.

– April 29, Ford ordered Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon.

– April 30, Saigon fell and the communist Pathet Lao took control in Laos.

Aftermath Domino Theory did not happen, U.S.

security not threatened. Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1978 to place

their puppet government in power over communist Khmer Rouge.– China invaded Vietnam

in 1979 to punish them.– Soviets backed Hanoi.– Showed ideological and

national interest fights among communist nations.

Vietnam remains one of the poorest nations in world.

War undermined faith of the government in the U.S.

Showed the fallacy of trusting in wealth and powerful military technology.

Holocaust in Cambodia and to a lesser extent in Vietnamese “re-education” camps.

U.S. soldiers.– Struggle for identity within a nation who

wanted to forget.– Very few are drug addicts, alcoholics, social

misfits, or psychologically unstable.Media portrayed otherwise.

Reaction Question for “A Bright Shining Lie”

John Paul Vann can be symbolically compared to the experience of the United States in the Vietnam War. Using examples from the movie, show how the nature of the war changed Vann’s (U.S.) attitudes and beliefs.