Fall of Dien Bien Phu

On 7 May 1954 a last major battle by French colonial power against the „Viet Minh“, the Vietnamese liberation army, begins. A battle for the jungle fortress of Dien Bien Phu ends successfully for the Vietnamese. This victory marks the end of French rule in Indo China. After his defeat at Lai Chao on 11 December of the previous year, French General Henri Navarre had withdrawn with his troops to the valley of Dien Bien Phu  – assuming that they would be protected from enemy artillery by the surrounding mountains.

© Stahlbaum The Ho Chi Minh path was used to transport troops, rations, materials and even artillery to Dien Bien Phu

For that security he accepted the likelihood of having his own supply lines cut in two. However, the general had underestimated the Viet Minh’s determination and readiness to make sacrifices. With carts, motorcycles and on foot they had transported dismantled artillery pieces to mountain tops and, on 13 March, opened fire from there on French positions. Fifty-six days later the defenders  – among them ca. 10,000 German Foreign Legionnaires – were forced to capitulate. Casualties on the French side amounted to 6,000 killed. The ruthless war of attrition by Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap is said to have cost the lives of up to 20,000 Viet Minh.