Tet Offensive

What was the result of Tet for North Vietnam?

- Tet not a success for the North - Their attack had not been well coordinated in some areas and went off too soon in others, enabling the US to reinforce weak areas. - ARVN fought better than expected - Local people did not help the Viet Cong as much as they had hoped. - PLAF and PAVN forces suffered heavy losses, 5000 of them in the city of Hue alone

How did North Vietnam prepare for Tet?

- The PAVN attacks on isolated villages were heavily defeated by Westmoreland's forces. - NLF forces infiltrated urban areas in their absence. - The communists used propaganda to broaded the rift between the US and S Vietnam.

Why did the conflict not end here?

- The Paris Peace Talks were delayed - During May 1968 1800 US soldiers were killed in Vietnam, 18,000 seriously wounded. - July 3 Westmoreland was replaced by General Creighton Abrams as Military War Commander.

What happened during the Tet Offensive?

-30 January, 84,000 PLAF and PAVN soldiers attacked 36 of the 44 provincial capitals in the South. - In Saigon 35 battalions under Tran Van Tra attacked the presidential palace, the General Staff HQ and the airport. - 20 guerrillas broke into the US embassy compound, and fought a six hour battle with US military police. All attackers killed , but Communist forces had driven deep into the heart of US-held territory.

What were North Vietnam's objectives?

1. Lure US troops away from cities into rural areas 2. Focus on locations south of the DMZ and along SV's western border 3. Open talks with the US as a distraction, while PLAF and PAVN launched simultaneous attacks on SV cities to incite a popular uprising.

What was the Tet Offensive?

1968 Vietcong and North Vietnamese surprise attacked major South Vietnamese cities during a ceasefire for a national holiday

How were US troops treated on leave?

The US troops were treated badly when on leave. Anti-war protesters made them unwelcome.In television drama they were portrayed as psychotic killers.

What was the My Lai Massacre?

- 16 March 1968. Incident covered up, revealed 1969. - As part of search and destroy, US troops sent to My Lai, a village suspected of harbouring NLF members. - Houses burnt, livestock killed, crops destroyed, wells closed. Villagers were supposed to be at market. - Troops went in shooting. More than 200 innocent villagers murdered. - Lieutenant William Calley convicted of multiple murders. Released on parole after 3 years.

What did US advisers agree on?

- Advisers agreed time was short and the US must begin to take steps to disengage - unable to build an independent South Vietnam. - The only troops required should be in support of those already there.

Why did Johnson decide not to stand for reelection?

- By March 1968, Johnson was extremely disillusioned. - The US had suffered a severe economic crisis - Treasury gold reserves were sold off and Johnson had to cancel his 'Great Society' welfare programme. - He decided not to stand for reelection

What was Cabot Lodge's advice for Vietnam?

- Cabot Lodge advised a shift from search and destroy strategy to one of using US military power as a shield. - This might allow South Vietnam to develop a stable society.

What did US judge as the result of Tet?

- General Westmoreland judged the Tet Offensive as a communist defeat - The US media and public saw Tet as a deep humiliation that the US could suffer so much damage at the hands of a small Third World nation.

Why was it impossible to build an independent South Vietnam?

- Government policies were weak, unpopular and alienating. - The US failed to close the Ho Chi Minh Trail. - ARVN were weak, US disadvantaged in guerrilla warfare. - The US ignored rural collapse and urban corruption in SV - Low morale US and ARVN - Hostile anti-war movement made it very difficult for the US to succeed.

What did Westmoreland request in March 1968?

- In March 1968, Westmoreland requested 200,000 extra US troops to take advantage of the opportunity to bring the war to an end, as he believed the communists were on the defensive. - Clifford and several of the 'wise men' who had previously advised escalation advised against this action. - McGeorge Bundy, Johnson's special adviser on National Security, was the spokesman for this group.

Change of US policy following Tet

- Johnson intended to de-escalate the conflict. Due to the negative US press and the immorality of US actions. - Troops along the DMZ protected, but no further bombing above the 20th parallel. - He believed the USSR as co-chairman of the Geneva Conference should use influence to make peace.

What was Johnson's attitude towards the war?

- Johnson watched public opinion polls closely. He wanted to adjust public opinion to support his policies, not change his policies. - Until Tet , he downplayed the war, few speeches, no rallies, parades or advertising campaigns. - Feared encouraging the hawks who wanted total victory, weakening his containment policy and priority of domestic social welfare.

How did North Vietnam trick the US?

- N Vietnam offered talks with the US if it stopped the bombing. - Giap then besieged the Khe Sanh Marine base as a diversionary tactic. - Johnson ordered the base to be secured at all costs. Over 100,000 tons of bombs fell over a five mile area.

Who became the next SV President?

- New President June 1965 = Nguyen Cao Ky - Henry Cabot Lodge was replaced by General Maxwell Taylor as ambassador to Vietnam in July 1965.

Who became the next President?

- Richard Nixon became the next president. He promised to bring the Vietnam War to an honourable end. - The voting showed that the US public was divided over whether to continue the Vietnam War.

When did the Tet Offensive take place?

January 1968