Cold War: Nations

Question 1

Vietnam: Origins

Answer 1

• First Indochina war - since 1946.
• France wanted to regain it as a colony
• Communist Viet Minh vs French
• US intervention in 1949/1950
  - Containment, especially after events in Asia
• The US were propping up Bao Dai - “Playboy and puppet of the Westerners”
• 1952: USA bearing 1/3 of cost of war
• FR = War of Colonialism
• USA = Struggle against Communism
• Mao supports Viet Minh

Question 2

Vietnam: The Geneva Accords

Answer 2

• 1954
• End of First Indochina War
• Divided Vietnam into North and South (17th Parallel)
• Called for reunification in 1956
• Anguished peace.

Question 3

North Vietnam

Answer 3

• Economic Crisis (Used to rely on South for productivity)
• Fear of Communism caused experts to move South
• Land Reform plan began in 1953
• Increased production but 50,000 people executed
• Large protests but did not hurt Ho Chi Minh’s popularity
• Repression and exit of intellectuals mean lack of opposition

Question 4

South Vietnam

Answer 4

• US wanted to build a strong anti-communist state
• Diem (First President) = Dictatorship, very anti-communist, Catholic
  - Backed by US with Economic and Political aid
• No elections held in 1956 (Geneva Accords)
• “Cornerstone of the free world in SE Asia” - JFK
• “An example for people who hate tyranny and love freedom” - Eisenhower on Diem

Question 5

Problems in the South

Answer 5

• Dangerous dependence on US aid
• Repression: 25,000 communist supporters arrested and sent to prison camps
• Diem failed to win support of those in rural areas
• No attempt to engage in redistribution

Question 6

SEATO

Answer 6

• South East Asian Treaty Organisation
• Created by Eisenhower administration in 1955
• Aimed to block Communist gains in South East Asia
  - Promoting Economic growth
• Included countries from outside the region
• Philippines and Thailand were only countries from SE to participate
• Had no Military forces of its own

Question 7

Laos and its importance to Vietnam

Answer 7

• US injected money to help a pro-west government
• Conflict between Phoumi and Pathet Lao
• Other SEATO members did not support intervention

Question 8

USA and Vietnam

Answer 8

• Vietnam intertwined with US interests across the globe - needed to show support for allies
• 1961/1962: Acceleration in increase of US involvement
  - ‘Operation Beefup’
• Sent US advisors to help train Army to fight Viet Cong
  - 12,000 advisors by 1962.

Question 9

South Vietnam in the War

Answer 9

• Growing support for the Viet Cong
• 1963: VC controlled 40% of southern rural areas
• Dissatisfaction as a result of Diem’s repression
• Buddhist Crisis
• Washington wanted to get rid of Nhu
• Americans shocked by fraught relations between Washington and Saigon.

Question 10

Buddhist Crisis

Answer 10

• Conflict between Catholics and Buddhist
• Catholics were given preferential treatment under Diem while Buddhists were repressed
• 1963: Monks self-immolation in protest against repression
• Diem was seen as illegitimate and not possessing support of the people
• Ngo Dinh Nhu: Diem’s brother who spearheaded anti-Buddhist campaign

Question 11

Coup in the South

Answer 11

• Coup d’etat: November 1, 1963
• Diem and Nhu are captured and murdered
• USA do not stop the Coup and help install new government
• Military Revolution Council takes power

Question 12

The Tet Offensive

Answer 12

• January 31 - February 2, 1968
• Attack on all major cities and military bases in South
• Vietnamese New Year (Tet Holiday)
• Psychological impact on the USA after major political centers were attacked: Saigon and US Embassy
• Decrease in Public opinion
  - Anti-War movement grew
• LBJ announced he would not seek a second term
• Turning Point

Question 13

Vietnamization

Answer 13

• Train, equip and expand the South Vietnamese Army so they could take over the Military responsibilities
• The USA would then be able to slowly withdraw troops
• June 1969: 25,000 troops withdrawn
  - Another 60,000 by the end of the year
• 1973: Peace agreement with N. Vietnamese leaders
  - US Withdrawl of remaining troops
  - Immediate cease-fire
  - Return of POWs
  - North recognize the legitimacy of South government

Question 14

Nixon and Cambodia

Answer 14

• February 22, 1969: VC launch offensive on US troops in South from Cambodia.
• Nixon decided to bomb Cambodia to destroy the VC bases (May 18, 1969).
• This was kept a secret from the public. Nixon even lied to congress and high-ranking military officers
• The information was leaked and led to government and FBI investigations

Question 15

Germany: East and West

Answer 15

• East:
  - Included Berlin which was also divided
  - Economic stagnation
  - Immigration to West Berlin
• West:
  - Bizonia (1947) followed by Trizonia (1948)
  - Joined NATO in May 1955
  - New Currency: Deutsche Mark

Question 16

The 5 Ds

Answer 16

• Decentralisation
• Decartelisation
• Denazification
• Demilitarisation
• Democratisation

Question 17

Basic Treaty

Answer 17

• West Germany (FRG) formally recognizes East Germany (GDR) as a separate nation
• Look to establish closer links

Question 18

Berlin Blockade and Airlift

Answer 18

• 1948-1949

- Stalin looking to control Berlin

Question 19

Willy Brandt

Answer 19

• Leader of West Germany (FRG)

- Key figure: Ostpolitik - Detente in Europe

Question 20

Berlin Wall

Answer 20

• August 12-13, 1961 - November 9, 1989