War’s End

1. War’s End

2. Year began calmly. U.S. moved toward friendly relations with China and Soviets. Hoped to use relationship to put pressure on Hanoi. Only 140,000 troops remained, of which only 20,000 were combat units. 1972

3. Giap however, planned the biggest offensive to date. March 30, heavily armed PAVN troops cross border (Nguyen Hue Offensive) (Easter Offensive). Allied commanders had expected an attack, not sure when or where.

4. Within a few weeks, situation critical with PAVN forces over-running ARVN forces in north. Thieu forced to replace commanders, in late June they counter-attack. Supported by U.S. naval gunfire, air strikes, and B-52 bombing raids. Central Highlands defended with help of John Paul Vann, important to prevent bisection of South Vietnam. Again U.S. support saved ARVN forces.

5. In the south, fierce fighting also raged. Key to victory again U.S. air power. Nixon ordered air campaign against North Vietnam (Operation Linebacker) to send a message and to cut off supplies.

6. Late April, Kissinger insisted the Soviets put pressure on Hanoi to preserve an upcoming U.S.-Soviet summit. Kissinger held secret meeting with North Vietnam on May 2. North Vietnam rejected negotiations. Nixon ordered massive bombing, a naval blockade of the north, and mined Haiphong Harbor. Neither China or Soviets reacted, isolated Hanoi.

7. As Easter Offensive ended in Sept., Nixon’s political stock rose. Appeared that ARVN had cut off the invasion. In reality, many of the same problems still existed, U.S. air power had saved the day. Vietnamization continued. August 22nd, last U.S. ground combat forces left.

8. Hanoi began to think about negotiated settlement. Nixon would be re-elected, they could get better terms before the election than after a landslide. They were getting no support from China or Soviets who wont risk Détente with the U.S. Had been severely damaged by bombing and their army decimated in Easter Offensive (100,000 killed, most tanks and artillery destroyed).

9. Began September 1972, settlement reached in 6 weeks. Within 60 days, all U.S. troops would leave South Vietnam and Hanoi would return all U.S. POW’s. South Vietnam would recognize communist movement and Hanoi would recognize Thieu government. Thieu, communists, and a third party would create elections to determine future of South Vietnam. PAVN troops in south at the time could remain. Peace Talks

10. Kissinger delivered agreement to Thieu. He refused to accept. Nixon also concerned about long term survival of South Vietnam, he agreed with Thieu. NVA upset as Kissinger proposed changes. Reject new proposals. Kissinger warns retaliation by Nixon (good cop-bad cop).

11. Talks broke off December 13th. December 18th, Operation Linebacker II began. Largest bombing campaign of the war. Targeted areas devastated.

13. December 28, Hanoi resumed talks to end bombing. January 27, 1973, Peace Accords signed.

14. Terms. Immediate ceasefire. U.S. removes remaining military forces and ends offensive actions. Hanoi returns all U.S. POW’s. Peace Accords

15. 150,000 NVA soldiers in south remain. International commission set up to enforce ceasefire. Election would be held to determine future government of south. South Vietnam declared free and independent, reunification with north would be gradual, peaceful, and without coercion.

16. Nixon had announced “peace with honor”, U.S. could now get out. Agreement broken almost immediately. War continued without the U.S. Nixon could not support Thieu government because of Watergate. Congress passed War Powers Act which severely limited the President’s power to make war. By the end of 1974, U.S. had all but abandoned South Vietnam. War Continued

17. Ceasefire in Laos followed the Peace Accords. Beginning in September, 1973, a coalition government ruled Laos, increasingly dominated by the communist Pathet Lao. Lon Nol and the Khmer Rouge fight in Cambodia. Early 1974, Khmer Rouge threatened the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. Laos and Cambodia

18. Military balance in South Vietnam turned in favor of the communists. Economy in south wrecked without U.S. aid. Military aid also cut off. December 1974, Hanoi planned for a final offensive. 1974

19. March 10, 1975, PAVN forces invaded south again. Thieu abandoned north and Central Highlands to defend the south. Refugees flee south. End

20. Mid-April, NVA units approached Saigon. April 17, Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia. April 21, Thieu resigned. April 27, communists launched attack on Saigon.

21. April 29, Ford ordered Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon.

22. April 30, Saigon fell and the communist Pathet Lao took control in Laos.

23. Domino Theory did not happen, U.S. security not threatened. Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1978 to place their puppet government in power over communist Khmer Rouge. China invaded Vietnam in 1979 to punish them. Soviets backed Hanoi. Showed ideological and national interest fights among communist nations. Aftermath

24. Vietnam remains one of the poorest nations in world. War undermined faith of the government in the U.S. Showed the fallacy of trusting in wealth and powerful military technology. Holocaust in Cambodia and to a lesser extent in Vietnamese “re-education” camps. U.S. soldiers. Struggle for identity within a nation who wanted to forget. Very few are drug addicts, alcoholics, social misfits, or psychologically unstable. Media portrayed otherwise.

25. Reaction Question for “A Bright Shining Lie” • John Paul Vann can be symbolically compared to the experience of the United States in the Vietnam War. Using examples from the movie, show how the nature of the war changed Vann’s (U.S.) attitudes and beliefs.