Dien Bien Phu A Vietnamese Victory
Dien Bien Phu: A Vietnamese Victory In January 1954, General Vo Nguyen Giap and 40 000 of his Viet Minh troops, armed with 200 heavy artillery guns were positioned in the mountains that encircle the valley of Dien Bien Phu. ... Around seven weeks later on May 7, General Navarre ordered a ceasefire and Viet Minh forces finally swamped Dien Bien Phu, declaring their victory. ... Both Giap and Navarre understood the fundamentals of battle and both knew that whoever won the logistical battle at Dien Bien Phu would win the tactical battle. ... Dien Bien Phu, a small town located near the Laotian border, was positioned on the main supply route between Laos and Vietnam. Navarre hoped that by setting up base in Dien Bien Phu, he could lure the Viet Minh into battle, which he expected to win. ... There are several ‘flaws’ to this plan that Giap took advantage of: - Dien Bien Phu is located in a valley surrounded by mountains and thick jungle. ... When the Viet Minh attacked the French, the damaged the airstrips at Dien Bien Phu. ... Giap, because of his knowledge of the Vietnamese terrain and climate, his resourcefulness in recruiting assistance and his tactical ability in battle made him well equipped to form offensive and defensive measures against the French.