What was significant about the Battle of Dien Bien Phu?

The Viet Minh victory at Dien Bien Phu signaled the end of French colonial influence in Indochina and cleared the way for the division of Vietnam along the 17th parallel at the conference of Geneva.

What happened at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954?

On May 7, 1954, the French-held garrison at Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam fell after a four month siege led by Vietnamese nationalist Ho Chi Minh. After the fall of Dien Bien Phu, the French pulled out of the region. The United States would not pull out of Vietnam for another twenty years.

What happened at Dien Bien Phu Why was it a turning point?

The battle of Dien Bien Phu was a significant turning point in Indochina. The battle was fought between the French and the Vietminh (Vietnamese Communist and nationalist). They were lead to independence by the communist vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh, who had declared their independence from France.

What was Dien Bien Phu and why was it significant for the United States?

Dien Bien Phu was a major battle of the first Indochina war in which the French fought against the Viet Minh communists. However, a second Indochina war would begin in 1956 which would include American forces and would eventually escalate into the Vietnam War.

How many civilians were killed at My Lai?

500 people
A company of American soldiers brutally killed most of the people—women, children and old men—in the village of My Lai on March 16, 1968. More than 500 people were slaughtered in the My Lai massacre, including young girls and women who were raped and mutilated before being killed.

Why did the US get involved in the battle of Dien Bien Phu?

With the defeat of the French at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, the United States became concerned about communist gains in Vietnam.

Who was involved in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu?

Battle of Dien Bien Phu. The Battle of Dien Bien Phu was the decisive engagement in the first Indochina War (1946–54). After French forces occupied the Dien Bien Phu valley in late 1953, Viet Minh commander Vo Nguyen Giap amassed troops and placed heavy artillery in caves of the mountains overlooking the French camp.

What was the Green Line at Dien Bien Phu?

The green areas signifies French fortified hills, the blue line marks the Nam Youm river. Later, the garrison would be reorganized a little bit and other strongpoints would be built too. French fortified hills at Dien Bien Phu, March 13, 1954. Beatrice and Gabrielle would be overrun within the first two days of the battle.

When did Viet Minh overran Dien Bien Phu?

When Viet Minh forces overran Dien Bien Phu on May 7, 1954, it was, according to Fall, the end of French military influence in Asia. Fall was born in 1926 and grew up in France. Both his parents were killed by the Nazis in World War II.

How long did the French March to Dien Bien Phu?

French troops imprisoned at Dien Bien Phu, including those wounded, were forced to march 380 miles (over 600 km) during 40 days, to reach Viet Minh POW camps on the border with China. Many soldiers wouldn’t survive the punitive march.