DIEN BIEN PHUMars, 1954

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

After being defeated in 1940, the French empire became incredibly important in the eyes of French people. It was seen as the condition to be a great power. From this point of view, Indochina known as “la perle de l’Empire” (the Empire’s pearl) was very important and that is why, in 1945, France tried to reinstall its colonial rule over Indochina. However, some Vietnamese were not ready to accept it and formed the Vietminh (which is an abbreviation for Vietnamese independence party). Ho Chi Minh and General Giap became leaders and they began to fight a guerrilla war against France.The situation for France became worst after 1950 when Vietminh received weapons from communist China. A large part of the country was controlled by the Vietminh. Moreover, the IVth Republic of France was not the best political system to deal with colonial war. The government was very weak and too dependant on parliament and political parties. Most of the governments of this Republic did not last very long (no more than a few months) and were never strong enough to take the courageous decision needed.So, the military fought the war alone without having what they needed to do so (they never had the number of men they wanted). The cost of the war was very heavy for France and by the end of it, America was financing 80% of the cost because more and more it was seen as a fight against communism.From a strategic point of view, the French Army wanted a real battle (as opposed to skirmishes) where its superiority in terms of equipment (artillery, tanks, airforce) would give them victory. A fortified camp in the middle of the enemy territory was seen by the French high command as the best way to push the enemy to accept a real battle. It worked quite well at Na San (1953) where the French Army managed to kill a lot of Vietminh soldiers and escaped by air.Nevertheless, Dien Bien Phu was not originally supposed to be a “hedgehog camp” like Na San. It was first created to be an offensive base to attack the enemy in the north west of Vietnam,

but then it became clear that the enemy was going to send 4 divisions (the French commander never thought he would be able to send so many men into this region) to attack Dien Bien Phu. So, the French transformed (with an important lack of means) Dien Bien Phu into a fortified camp.The second French error was to think that the Vietminh would not be able to take their heavy artillery with them into the mountains. The third was to believe they would have enough planes to feed the battle and bomb the Vietminh soldiers at the same time, but this was not the case (Dien Bien Phu was further from Hanoï than Na San). The battle lasted a little less than 60 days and was very bloody. After the heroic combat of the ground troops, the French were defeated, putting an end to French colonial rule in Indochina.

FRANCE – ORDER OF BATTLE

GROUPEMENT OPÉRATIONNEL DU NORD-OUEST

Réduit Central

Post de Commandement – 1x cmd, 1x infantry

Groupement Aéroporté 2

--5e Bataillon de Parachutistes Vietnamiens ----P.C. - 1x cmd----1e Compagnie – 1x infantry----2e Compagnie – 1x infantry----3e Compagnie – 1x infantry----Compagnie Accompagnement – 1x MG/mortar

--6e Bataillon de Parachutistes Coloniaux----P.C. - 1x cmd----1e Compagnie – 1x infantry----2e Compagnie – 1x infantry----3e Compagnie – 1x infantry----Compagnie Accompagnement – 1x MG/mortar

2e Groupe du 4e Régiment d'Artillerie Coloniale (-) – 2x 105mm M2A1

11e Batterie du 4e Groupe du 4e Régiment d'Artillerie Coloniale – 1x 155mm M114

Section du 1er Groupe Antiaérien d'Artillerie Coloniale d'Extrême-Orient – 6x 12,7mm AAMG Quadri

Sous-Secteur Nord

Anne-Marie

3e Bataillon Thai-–P.C. - 1x cmd--1e Compagnie - 1x infantry--2e Compagnie – 1x infantry--3e Compagnie – 1x infantry

Bataillon d'Artillerie Autonome Laotienne - 3x 105mm M2A1

Gabrielle

5e Bataillon, 7e Régiment de Tirailleurs Marocains--P.C. – 1x cmd--1e Compagnie – 1x infantry--2e Compagnie – 1x infantry--3e Compagnie – 1x infantry--4e Compagnie – 1x infantry--Compagnie Auxiliaire Tai - 1x infantry--Compagnie Accompagnement – 1 mortar /57mm RCL

1re Compagnie Étrangère Parachutiste de Mortiers Lourds (-) – 1x 120mm mortar

Sous-Secteur Centre – Groupe Mobile 9

Béatrice

3e Bataillon, 13e Demi-Brigade Légion Étrangère--P.C. – 1x cmd--1e Compagnie – 1x infantry--2e Compagnie – 1x infantry--3e Compagnie – 1x infantry--4e Compagnie – 1x infantry--Compagnie Auxiliaire Tai - 1x infantry--Compagnie Accompagnement – 1 mortar /57mm RCL

Claudine

1er Bataillon, 13e Demi-Brigade Légion Étrangère--P.C. – 1x cmd--1e Compagnie – 1x infantry--2e Compagnie – 1x infantry--3e Compagnie – 1x infantry--4e Compagnie – 1x infantry--Compagnie Auxiliaire Tai - 1x infantry--Compagnie Accompagnement – 1 mortar /57mm RCL

1er Bataillon Étranger de Parachutistes--P.C. - 1x cmd--1e Compagnie – 1x infantry--2e Compagnie – 1x infantry--3e Compagnie – 1x infantry--4e Compagnie – 1x infantry--1e CIPLE – 1x infantry--Compagnie Accompagnement – 1x MG/mortar/57mm RCL

3e Escadron de Marche, 1e Régiment de Chasseurs à Cheval(-) – 1x M24 Shaffee tank

Dominique

3e Bataillon, 3e Régiment de Tirailleurs Algériens--P.C. – 1x cmd--1e Compagnie – 1x infantry--2e Compagnie – 1x infantry--3e Compagnie – 1x infantry--4e Compagnie – 1x infantry--Compagnie Auxiliaire Tai - 1x infantry--Compagnie Accompagnement – 1 mortar /57mm RCL--2x Compagnie Thai (attached) – 2x infantry

1er Compagnie Mixte de Mortiers de la Légion Étrangère, 3e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie – 1x 120mm mortar

2e Compagnie Mixte de Mortiers de la Légion Étrangère, 5e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie – 1x 120mm mortar

Batterie, 2e Groupe du 4e Régiment d'Artillerie Coloniale – 1x 105mm M2A1

1re Compagnie Étrangère Parachutiste de Mortiers Lourds (-) – 1x 120mm mortar

Éliane

1er Bataillon, 4e Régiment Tirailleurs Marocains--P.C. – 1x cmd--1e Compagnie – 1x infantry--2e Compagnie – 1x infantry--3e Compagnie – 1x infantry--4e Compagnie – 1x infantry--Compagnie Auxiliaire Tai - 1x infantry--Compagnie Accompagnement – 1 mortar /57mm RCL

Huguette

1er Bataillon, 2e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie--P.C. – 1x cmd--1e Compagnie – 1x infantry--2e Compagnie – 1x infantry--3e Compagnie – 1x infantry--4e Compagnie – 1x infantry--Compagnie Auxiliaire Tai - 1x infantry--Compagnie Accompagnement – 1 mortar /57mm RCL

Juno

8e Bataillon de Parachutistes de Choc--P.C. - 1x cmd--1e Compagnie – 1x infantry--2e Compagnie – 1x infantry--3e Compagnie – 1x infantry--Compagnie Accompagnement – 1x MG/mortar

Sous-Secteur Sud – Groupe Mobile 6

Isabelle

3e Bataillon, 3e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie--P.C. – 1x cmd--1e Compagnie – 1x infantry--2e Compagnie – 1x infantry--3e Compagnie – 1x infantry--4e Compagnie – 1x infantry--Compagnie Auxiliaire Tai - 1x infantry--Compagnie Accompagnement – 1 mortar /57mm RCL

1e Bataillon, 2e Régiment de Tirailleurs Algériens--P.C. – 1x cmd--1e Compagnie – 1x infantry--2e Compagnie – 1x infantry--3e Compagnie – 1x infantry--4e Compagnie – 1x infantry--Compagnie Auxiliaire Tai - 1x infantry--Compagnie Accompagnement – 1 mortar /57mm RCL--2x Compagnie Thai (attached) – 6x infantry

3e Escadron de Marche, 1e Régiment de Chasseurs à Cheval(-) – 1x M24 light tank

3e Groupe du 10e Régiment d'Artillerie Coloniale – 1x cmd, 3x 105mm M2A1

VIETMINH – ORDER OF BATTLE

308th Division

Headquarters – 1x cmd, 1x infantry, 1x engineer, 3x AAMG36 th Regiment --Headquarters – 1x cmd--Heavy Support Company – 1x MG/mortar, 1x 37mm ATG--80 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar--84 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar--89 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar88 th Regiment --Headquarters – 1x cmd--Heavy Support Company – 1x MG/mortar, 1x 37mm ATG--22 nd Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar

--29 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar--322 nd Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar102 nd Regiment --Headquarters – 1x cmd--Heavy Support Company – 1x MG/mortar, 1x 37mm ATG--18 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar--59 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar--79 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortarArtillery Battalion – 1x cmd, 3x 75mm gun

312th Division

Headquarters – 1x cmd, 1x infantry141 st Regiment --Headquarters – 1x cmd--Heavy Support Company – 1x MG/mortar, 1x 37mm ATG--11 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar--16 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar--428 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar165 th Regiment --Headquarters – 1x cmd--Heavy Support Company – 1x MG/mortar, 1x 37mm ATG--115 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar--542 nd Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry

----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar--564 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar209 th Regiment --Headquarters – 1x cmd--Heavy Support Company – 1x MG/mortar, 1x 37mm ATG--130 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar--154 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar--166 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortarArtillery Battalion – 1x cmd, 3x 75mm gun

316th Division

Headquarters – 1x cmd, 1x infantry98 th Regiment --Headquarters – 1x cmd--Heavy Support Company – 1x MG/mortar, 1x 37mm ATG--215 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar--439 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar--938 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar174 th Regiment --Headquarters – 1x cmd--Heavy Support Company – 1x MG/mortar, 1x 37mm ATG--249 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar--251 st Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry

----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar--255 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar176 th Regiment --Headquarters – 1x cmd--Heavy Support Company – 1x MG/mortar, 1x 37mm ATG--888 th Battalion ----Headquarters – 1x cmd----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company - 1x infantry----Infantry Company – 1x infantry----Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar

57th Regiment, 304th Division

Headquarters – 1x cmdHeavy Support Company – 1x MG/mortar, 1x 37mm ATG265 th Battalion --Headquarters – 1x cmd--Infantry Company - 1x infantry--Infantry Company - 1x infantry--Infantry Company – 1x infantry--Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar346 th Battalion --Headquarters – 1x cmd--Infantry Company - 1x infantry--Infantry Company - 1x infantry--Infantry Company – 1x infantry--Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar418 th Battalion --Headquarters – 1x cmd--Infantry Company - 1x infantry--Infantry Company - 1x infantry--Infantry Company – 1x infantry--Heavy Support Company - 1x MG/mortar

351st Heavy Division

Headquarters – 1x cmd, 1x infantry45 th Artillery Regiment --632 nd Battalion – 1x cmd, 3x 105mm--954 th Battalion – 1x cmd, 3x 105mm675 th Artillery Regiment --83 rd Battalion – 1x cmd, 3x 75mm--175 th Battalion – 1x cmd, 2x 75mm, 1x 120mm mortar--275 th Battalion – 1x cmd, 2x 75mm, 1x 120mm mortar237 th Heavy Mortar Regiment --413 th Battalion – 1x cmd, 3x 82mm mortar--415 th Battalion – 1x cmd, 3x 82mm mortar--437 th Battalion – 1x cmd, 3x 82mm mortar367 th Anti-Aircraft Regiment --392 nd Battalion – 4x 37mm AAG, 6x AAMG--393 rd Battalion – 4x 37mm AAG, 6x AAMG--398 th Battalion – 4x 37mm AAG, 6x AAMG151 st Engineer Regiment --Headquarters – 1x cmd, 3x engineer--I/151 st Battalion – 3x engineer--II/151 st Battalion – 3x engineer--III/151 st Battalion – 3x engineer--IV/151 st Battalion – 3x engineer