The battle of Dien Bien Phu.

[Ron Bleac]

French parachutists at landing zone "Alaine" during the initial phases of the battle.

The climactic confrontation of French Union forces against the Viet Minh during the first Indo-China war took place from the 13th of March to the 7th of May, 1954. The battle of Dien Bien Phu is where the French Foreign Legion proved to France and the world that they are warriors in the truest sense, fighting to the last man and last round of ammunition in positions surrounding Dien Bien Phu. French troops fought valiantly in terrible conditions, suffering from lack of ammunition, lack of medical supplies and terrible casualties inflicted by massive Viet Minh assaults. The battle of Dien Bien Phu was a valiant French last stand defense, with a single French camp surrounded by large hills and mountains, these occupied by Viet Minh troops.

The battle is important in human history because it's the first time a colonial nation has overthrown its overlords in a pitched modern battle. However, it must be noted that during the battle, the French troops numbered in at only 10,000 troops, versus the 58,000 that the Viet Minh possessed. It's also significant because the troops involved were largely international (Foreign Legion) troops. Some US participation also took place, but this was only declassified in 2004.

Viet Minh troops preparing to attack French positions. The battle of Dien Bien Phu is very reminescent of Great War (WWI) fighting, with trenches, bunkers and casemates playing a key part.

The French plan of battle:

The French were initially planning to cut Viet Minh supply lines that ran down from Laos, an ally of France. By placing a key fortress into the wilderness, supplied by air bridges, they would be able to launch attacks on Viet Minh supply lines. This was meant to force the Viet Minh into a confrontation with the French, a confrontation that would hopefully cripple Viet Minh troops and force them out of the war. Things didn't go exactly as planned. While the initial drop into the area was extremely succesful, with a battalion of French troops engaging Viet Minh forces in a village nearby immediately after landing and whiping out any resistance, things quickly went sour.

After the fortress was placed into the area and thousands of French troops ferried in, it was quickly surrounded by undetected Viet Minh infantry elements and put under a siege that lasted 57 days. This siege was reinforced by other troops in the area and the French were locked into a valley. Suddenly, the French were trapped in a massive killzone with every inch covered by artillery, mortar, heavy machine gun and rocket fire. The Viet Minh were able to bombard French troops accurately and at their own will. The French formed a fighting perimeter that consisted of key fortresses and bunkers, these were:

• Huguette
  
• Eliane
  
• Dominique
  
• Claudine
  
• Anne-Marie
  
• Beatrice
  

The French had a solid plan: Hold these positions, no matter the cost. Inflict massive casualties on the Viet Minh, bleed them out of the battle. But due to poor reconnaissance, the Legionnaire commanders were uninformed of the massive attacking force that was forming right by them. 58,000 Viet Minh soldiers, fully armed, supplied and ready for combat. These Viet Minh troops were commanded by Võ Nguyên Giáp, a senior and experienced Vietnamese commander. Võ alone had more combat under his belt than any of the French commanders combined. Within two days of the French landing, codenamed "Operation Castor," the Viet Minh had completely surrounded and cut off all communication to the outside world. 9000 French troops were now cut off completely, but their supplies were in good condition and they had yet to take combat casualties.

"The jungle is alive and it is out to eat us."

Operation Beatrice

Operation Beatrice was a Viet Minh combat operation conducted on the 13th of March that signaled the beginning of the battle. Early in the morning, Viet Minh artillery (which the French were unaware of) opened fire on landing zone Beatrice. Over 9000 shells landed and detonated in the immediate area, causing extreme French casualties, including including Lt. Col. Gaucher, who was in charge of the defense of Beatrice. He and his most senior officer were killed immediately by a pair of shells that penetrated and exploded in their redoubt. With Beatrice's commanding element neutralized, the Viet Minh launched an immediate human wave assault across the open plains with bayonets affixed. The Viet Minh stormed the redoubt, but the defending French made near fanatical resistance. After 7 hours, the Viet Minh had secured LZ Beatrice and its fortifications but with dire losses. Many of the French forces in the area had preferred to fight to the death rather than retreat. Automatic gunfire rattled well on into the night as the Viet Minh attempted to clear out the trenches and bunkers with flamethrowers, hand grenades and automatics of their own. The stubborn French resistance held on, but was eventually extinguished. The 3/13 Legion Half Brigade had taken great casualties.

- On March 14th, a reinforced Vietnamese parachute battalion was dropped into the area under the command of French Major Botella. Soon after landing, this battalion was reduced in man strenght by strong Viet Minh attacks from all sides at once. In the evening, fortified point "Gabrielle" suffered the same fate as Beatrice. Held by the 5/7 Algerian Rifles, this strong point came under attack at 2000 hours after "heavy and murderous" artillery bombardment. Fighting was extreme and violent on all sectors as the Viet Minh relentlessly pushed into the French lines. Even though Viet Minh forces faced initial failure due to strong French presence, at 0230 hours on the 15th, the Viet Minh secured a foothold in Gabrielle. At 0500, the Viet Minh launched another human wave assault and exploited their large numbers. With most of the French defenders killed or wounded, the Viet Minh overran them. The French forces under the command of Major Botella attempted a counter-attack, but were forced to withdraw after taking terrible casualties.

- On March 16th, the 6th Colonial Parachute Battalion commanded by a Major Bigeard was dropped into the valley. Colonel Piroth, the commander of French artillery in the area committed suicide after realizing that he had vastly underestimated the enemy.

- On March 18th, the Viet Minh overruns the supply road between Isabelle and a French command point, forcing French troops to withdraw yet again. It is at this point that the Vietnamese commander sets up an "asphyxiation" plan. The plan is to surround French positions with a network of trenches, enabling Vietnamese troops to infiltrate the camp at will and to choke out French resistance through systematic bombardments by artillery and attacks by infantry to go with it. The plan is put into action later that day, with Vietnamese troops attacking in unison with artillery support, then digging in to different sectors. Inch by inch, sector by sector, French resistance is obliterated by superior Viet Minh firepower. However, Viet Minh losses are extremely high due to tenacious French resistance.

- 10 days later, March 28th. "An offensive operation was effectively conducted against the Viet minh anti-aircraft emplacements west of Dien Bien Phu. Losses were heavy on both sides; 20 killed including 2 officers and 76 wounded including 5 officers for the French, while the Viet minh suffered 350 killed and probably 1000 wounded. A large number of weapons were captured (17 machine guns, 2 bazookas, 14 automatic rifles, 100 rifles) and 40 prisoners were taken." - Quote from "Dien Bien Phu."

- March 31st: French troops counter-attack and reoccupy "Eliane" and "Dominique" fortified points. They are forced to abandon them yet again that night after taking heavy casualties from Viet Minh artillery and counter-attacks, but they scuttle the positions before leaving. As a result, the lifeline of the French troops, an airfield in the center of the fortress comes under threat from Viet Minh attack. The flank of the French forces is now open.

- Between March 14th and April 6th, nearly 4500 French reinforcements are dropped into the area with a majority of them landing in French occupied territory. However, these reinforcements still take nearly 1500 men in dead, with an additional hundreds wounded. The 2nd Foreign Legion Parachute Battalion (2REP) was obliterated in an attack on Huguette strong point on April 23rd. The virtual disappearance and sacrifice of this unit opened up the right flank of the French camp for Viet Minh attack.

- At the end of April, 1954, the underground hospitals of Dien Bien Phu overflowed with wounded. At the command posts, the wounded rest in mud but continue to operate and serve automatic weapons in the camp. The French troops are nearly completely out of ammunition, but desperately scrounge up more. Their resistance is still extreme and they are repulsing Viet Minh attacks daily. Medical supplies, reinforcements and ammunition are nonexistent.

- Shortly after, the Viet Minh launch another massive assault with thousands of troops attacking from now occupied French outposts. This attack is halted and forced to retreat due to fierce French resistance. The French held on with hand grenades and their service sidearms.

- On May 7th, the Viet Minh regroup openly and launch another attack. Advancing through trenches filled with the wounded and dead, Viet Minh forces secure the final French strongpoint before the Legionnaire headquarters, "Isabelle." French General Cogny sends a final message: "There must be no white flag. There must be no surrender. The firing must cease on its own."

- At 1700 hours, May 7th, fortified point "Isabelle" ceases firing. French forces transmit final report: "It is over. Adieu, my dearest friends."

- 2100 hours, Viet Minh Forces breach the command bunker in Isabelle.

- May 8th, 0000 hours. All radio contact is lost with Dien Bien Phu. The command point had expended its last round of ammunition and was over-run. French forces transmit final report: "We are blowing up everything, Vive le France!"

- May 8th, 0900 hours. Dien Bien Phu has fallen. The Viet Minh flag is raised over the command post, bathed in morning sun.

2,200 dead, 5000 wounded, 11 800 prisoners. After 4 months of captivity, 4000 survivors.

The battle cost the Viet Minh roughly 8,000 dead 15,000 wounded.

The red Viet Minh flag is hoisted over the French command bunker, May 8th, 0900 hours.

[Cygna]

I loved this. Good read, very informative on a battle I've not investigated much. Thanks Ron!