What follows is an accurate timeline of the events leading up to, during and following the Vietnam War.
Contents
1945[edit | edit source]
March[edit | edit source]
- The Japanese establish an independent Vietnam under the leadership Emperor Bao Dai between March 9 and 11.
August[edit | edit source]
- On August 15, the Japanese surrender and thus ending World War II.
September[edit | edit source]
- On September 5, Ho Chi Minh leads the Vietminh to Hanoi and declares a Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
- On September 15, British forces begin to disarm Japanese forces and restore power to the French.
1946[edit | edit source]
March[edit | edit source]
- France recognizes the Democratic Republic of Vietnam as an independent state within the Indochinese Union.
November[edit | edit source]
- On November 23, Haiphong is shelled by French warships.
December[edit | edit source]
- The Vietminh launch attacks on French garrisons, the First Indochina War begins.
1949[edit | edit source]
March[edit | edit source]
- Vietnam becomes an associated state within the French Union with Bao Dai as its leader.
October[edit | edit source]
- On October 1, the People's Republic of China is established.
1950[edit | edit source]
January[edit | edit source]
- Both the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China recognize Ho Chi Minh's Democratic Republic of Vietnam as legitimate.
July[edit | edit source]
- On July 26, President Truman grants the French $15 million of aid for their war effort in French Indochina.
1953[edit | edit source]
October[edit | edit source]
- Laos gains independence from France, though it remains part of the Indochinese Union.
November[edit | edit source]
- Cambodia gains its independence from France on November 9.
1954[edit | edit source]
January[edit | edit source]
- The Geneva Conference of 1954 convenes to solve the Korean War and help to establish peace in French Indochina.
March[edit | edit source]
- On March 13, the Battle of Dien Bien Phu begins.
May[edit | edit source]
- On May 7, French forces surrender at Dien Bien Phu.
June[edit | edit source]
- On June 16, Ngo Dinh Diem becomes prime minister of South Vietnam.
July[edit | edit source]
- On July 21, the Geneva Accords are signed thus ending the First Indochina War and dividing Vietnam at the 17th Parallel.
September[edit | edit source]
- On September 8, the South-East Asia Treaty Organization(SEATO) is established.
October[edit | edit source]
- On October 11, the Vietminh take over leadership of North Vietnam.
- On October 24, President Eisenhower promises increased aid for Ngo Dinh Diem's regime.
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