How Peoples Army of Vietnam Was Able to Defeat French at Indochina Essay Example
The People’s Army of Vietnam was able to defeat the French in the first Indo-china war due a variety of reasons. It was a combination of Vietnam’s strong sense of nationalism, strong leadership led by Ho Chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap, the Viet Minh’s strengths and military tactics and the weaknesses of the French which would contribute to the Viet Minh victory at Dien Bien Phu.
Vietnam’s strong sense of nationalism was a major contributor why Vietnam was able to defeat the French in Indochina. Nationalism united the majority of Vietnam in the quest for independence. It also gave the Vietnamese population the determination and inspiration to defeat the French. This is shown through the view of Ho Chi Minh that “We have a secret weapon... Our secret weapon is nationalism” giving a sense that nationalism was an advantage that helped defeat France in the war. Vietnamese nationalism arose ever since French colonised in Indochina. During the French colonisation they introduced many western society cultures upon the traditional people of Vietnam which the Vietnam population did not support like French education and culture. It also treated Vietnam merely as an investment to financially and economically assist their homeland by exploiting Vietnam for their resources. This is shown through the period of 1917-44 were 30percent of workers at the Michelin tyre company died of malnutrition and where 2 million peasants in the north died of starvation. Also the French were very much racist towards the natives of Vietnam treating them as inferior due to their traditional cultures whereas the French though they were superior due because they were educated and had a higher standard of living. In addition Nationalism further grew through propaganda, political parties such as the Vietnamese Nationalist Party and the Indochinese Communist Party and through Ho Chi Minh. Ho Chi Minh was able to grow Vietnamese Nationalism through his great leadership, his inspiring speeches, and the
Vietnam’s strong sense of nationalism was a major contributor why Vietnam was able to defeat the French in Indochina. Nationalism united the majority of Vietnam in the quest for independence. It also gave the Vietnamese population the determination and inspiration to defeat the French. This is shown through the view of Ho Chi Minh that “We have a secret weapon... Our secret weapon is nationalism” giving a sense that nationalism was an advantage that helped defeat France in the war. Vietnamese nationalism arose ever since French colonised in Indochina. During the French colonisation they introduced many western society cultures upon the traditional people of Vietnam which the Vietnam population did not support like French education and culture. It also treated Vietnam merely as an investment to financially and economically assist their homeland by exploiting Vietnam for their resources. This is shown through the period of 1917-44 were 30percent of workers at the Michelin tyre company died of malnutrition and where 2 million peasants in the north died of starvation. Also the French were very much racist towards the natives of Vietnam treating them as inferior due to their traditional cultures whereas the French though they were superior due because they were educated and had a higher standard of living. In addition Nationalism further grew through propaganda, political parties such as the Vietnamese Nationalist Party and the Indochinese Communist Party and through Ho Chi Minh. Ho Chi Minh was able to grow Vietnamese Nationalism through his great leadership, his inspiring speeches, and the