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Valerie
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The French had a large colony in southeast asia. Back then it was referred to as French Indochina. After WWII this area fought the French for their independence. You have to remember that France had many problems after WWII including Algerian colonies, African colonies, etc.. and many reconstruction efforts within their own home country.. all with very little funds.
Fighting in French Indochina lasted until March 1954, when the Viet Minh won the decisive victory against French forces at the gruelling Battle of Dien Bien Phu. This led to the partition of Vietnam into the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in the North, under Viet Minh control, and the State of Vietnam in the South. The North was communist. Other parts of old Indochina also converted to communist rule including Cambodia. There was a great fear in western countries that communism would spread further and further around the world through these small wars.
The State of South Vietnam had the support of the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. The events of 1954 also marked the end of French involvement in the region, and the beginnings of serious US commitment to South Vietnam which led to the Vietnam War. |
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thud.fan
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They were defeated in battle at Dien Ben Phu and the French government did not want to spend any more money or resources in trying to keep the place...It wasn't worth it to them. |
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Chief70
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Because of all the French blunders in fighting the first Indochina War with the Vietnamese and finally they lost the final major battle in 1954 at Dien Ben Phu. The lost of this battle resulted in the split of the country - North Vietnam and South Vietnam. Fighting in Vietnam resumed and President Eisenhower sent in American soldiers as advisers to the South Vietnamese, as did President Kennedy by sending special forces to serve as advisers, and then the Vietnam War escalated with the number of Americans forces being increased. America, as a signatory on the SE Asia Treaty with SE Asia countries, was obligated to help defend the country as it was an ally but so many people forgot that major
obligation America accepted as the war escalated and soldiers were lost and injured in battles. |
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ANN-MARIE B
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The French had got themselves into a difficult military position. Despite huge American help, the French could not cope with the Viet Minh's guerilla tactics. The Viet Minh were by now receiving help from Communist China - Mao Tse Tung had taken power of China in 1949. The fact that two sides had developed was classic Cold War history. |
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The White Rose
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The Vietnamese kicked their butts is why. And Eisenhower declined to support the French militarily in holding on to their colonial possessions.
Unfortunately, LBJ did not have Eisenhower's wisdom ten years down the road.
Also lack of support for the war at home defeated the French, similar to why America left.
Vietnam was a civil war and western powers had no business whatsoever being there.
Time and history has proven this to be correct, as Vietnam is now reunited and there was no "massacre" and no massive communist take-over in SE Asia.
Does all this sound familiar once again? |
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bob08886
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The same reason they leave everywhere else-- |
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Dragonden6389
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not easy to win over a citizen army . |
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l d
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Three words: Dien Bien Phu |
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Sgt Big Red
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Read what Joe T states, that answer is the most short and to the point. Not like wikipedia copy and paste answers.
He is right on the mark. short and sweet and shows no self bias, well spoken. |
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Dougal
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Do not listen to the morons that say the French always cut and run. Wally is right on the money for the most part … the account of the breakup of French Indo China and subsequent end of France’s involvement in the region. France had outsourced the war to the French Foreign Legion including a battalion made up of all former Nazi Waffen SS troopers numbering around 900 troops that where used extensively during the conflict and where also present at Dien Bien Phu, the battalion was never reassembled after the war and those who survived by all accounts were spread throughout the legion. So in short the resources to maintain the region both militarily and economically where stringent and the French people were unwilling to commit regular French forces. Some contend that the lack of support from both England and the United States lead to the French defeat and the subsequent US involvement and withdraw. |
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Jerbson
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The French are always first to run |
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dsm37127
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it was mainly because of their humiliating defeat at dien ben phu. that and the fact that the french government let them be overwhelmed and anniliated. |
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danor
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the same reason as USA left, they got their *** kicked by people who didn't want foreigners in their country |
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haroldfinster
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They realized that Vietnam war was a quagmire, something that the US could not realize. |
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Big kid
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Because they are French. They never did have a stomach for a fight |
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pierric
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they realized 20 years earlier than americans they had no business being over there.
Some nations are smarter than others and that's why they get rants here from dim-witted bush patriots. |
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joe b
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The french knew they couldnt beat the vietnamese so they did what theyre best at and ran like the arseholes they are. |
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RayN-is-back
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The north were using the V C in the south to aid them in the south Most VC were Buddhist who felt the christens were mistreating them Much aid was coming in from Russia via China Much like Korea The French pulled out we come in We were winning But the U S public tried of the war and the house cut the funding we had no choice but to pull out Now the rest of the world love to tell us "you lost in Vietnam" not true But let them have their fun.After the north took over they disbanded the V C sent some to reeducation camps Had a brief war with China and invaded Cambodia The left did not care about that only that America had pulled out Ho sorry lost |
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Scourge 0' Fascism
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THey realized that it was unwinnable. Their interest in imposing their will did not equal the will of the Vietnamese people in getting rid of colonialism. It took us 20 years to figure that out, with a waste of 58,000 lives. |
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