Leader of the Vietcong Ho Chi Minh won the Vietnam war because the Vietnamese people supported Ho Chi Minh and the Vietcong as Heroes and not as the Communist Villains they were portrayed as by the Anti-Communists fighting them.
History Of Ho Chi Mihn & The Vietcong
The Vietcong, also known as the National Liberation Front (NLF), played a significant role in the Vietnam War. This article explores the history, origins, famous leaders, and goals of the Vietcong, shedding light on their motivations and their impact on the conflict.
I. The Origins of the Vietcong:
The Vietcong emerged during the mid-1950s in response to the growing conflict in Vietnam. They were a communist guerrilla force composed of South Vietnamese fighters who opposed the U.S.-supported government in Saigon. The Vietcong aimed to unify Vietnam under a communist regime, inspired by the ideology of Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party of Vietnam.
II. Historical Background and the First Indochina War:
To understand the origins of the Vietcong, it is essential to examine the historical context of the First Indochina War (1946-1954). The conflict emerged as Vietnam sought independence from French colonial rule. Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh, a nationalist and communist organization, fought against French forces and eventually secured independence for North Vietnam.
III. Goals and Motivations of the Vietcong:
The Vietcong sought to achieve several goals during the Vietnam War:
- Overthrowing the South Vietnamese Government: The Vietcong aimed to remove the U.S.-backed government in South Vietnam, which they perceived as illegitimate and controlled by foreign powers. They sought to establish a united communist Vietnam.
- Expelling Foreign Forces: The Vietcong opposed the presence of American and allied forces in Vietnam, viewing them as imperialist invaders. They aimed to drive out foreign military forces and regain control of their homeland.
- Mobilizing Rural Support: The Vietcong drew support from rural areas in South Vietnam, particularly among peasants and farmers. They provided social services, implemented land reforms, and focused on winning the hearts and minds of the local population.
IV. Famous Leaders of the Vietcong:
- Ho Chi Minh: Considered the founding father of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh was a key figure in the formation of the Vietcong. His leadership and revolutionary vision influenced the goals and direction of the organization.
- Vo Nguyen Giap: Giap served as the military strategist and commander of the Vietcong forces. He played a crucial role in orchestrating successful military campaigns, including the famous Tet Offensive in 1968.
- Nguyen Van Thieu: Thieu was not a leader of the Vietcong but served as the president of South Vietnam. His presidency represented the opposition to the Vietcong, as he aligned himself with the U.S. and sought to counter the communist forces.
V. Vietcong Tactics and Strategies:
The Vietcong utilized guerrilla warfare tactics, relying on hit-and-run attacks, ambushes, and underground networks. They employed the vast network of tunnels known as the Cu Chi tunnels to launch surprise attacks and maintain their operations.
Vietcong Weapons and Tactics In The Vietnam War
Despite the portrayal of the Vietcong as Communist Villains, the Vietcong is responsible for probably one of the biggest Military upsets in History.
Led by Ho Chi Mihn, the National Liberation Front (NLF) was the military wing of the Vietnamese Communists, or Vietcong based in North Vietnam.
The Vietcong waged a bitter guerilla campaign against South Vietnam and its allies, most notably the United States.
The Vietcong was primarily a guerilla army that was supplied by China and the Soviet Union.
The AK-47 was the standard weapon of choice coupled with heavy machine guns for Helicopter defence as well as Mortars and rocket propelled Grenades.
A lot of the weaponry was also Home made with supplies often being scavenged from discarded American Bombs and artillery.
The Vietcong also designed highly effective contaminated Booby traps known as “Punji traps” made of sharp spikes and placed in hidden in pits.
In addition to inflicting injuries from the spikes, the Booby traps also infected enemy soldiers and were amongst the most feared Vietcong weapons.
Sheer infantry numbers was also another factor in favour of the Vietcong enabling it to sustain massive casualties.
An underground tunnel system known as the Ho Chi Mihn Trail was built and it enabled the Vietcong to easily blend with the terrain and secretly transport Military supplies from neighbouring Cambodia.
All these factors combined to enable the Vietcong to wage a successful Guerilla War against the US Army which the Communists viewed as a continuation of the Anti-Colonial struggle that had begun with the expulsion of the French from North Vietnam prior to US Military involvement in South Vietnam.
Legacy Of Ho Chi Mihn & The Vietcong
Although Ho Chi Minh died in 1969 and did not witness the independence of Vietnam, he was an important symbol of Vietnamese unification throughout the Vietnam War.
The Vietnam War ended in 1976 with a US troop withdrawal and the unification of Vietnam which marked the realisation of Ho Chi Mihn’s dream when he first petitioned President Wilson at Versaille at the end of World War 1.
Its safe to say the sheer ‘swarm’ of infantry that was required to make up for the massive losses suffered by the Vietcong during the Vietnam War was in itself a testament to how far the Vietnamese people were willing to go to show their support for Ho Cho Mihn and the Vietcong because they shared the same dream of a Unified Vietnam as a logical consequence of the process of French decolonisation.
For this reason, the Vietnamese people supported Ho Chi Mihn and the Vietcong as Heroes and did not view Ho Chi Mihn and the Vietcong as Communist villains.
The Vietnam War itself was part of a broader global Cold War conflict and left a stain on the collective American memory that was only removed after American Victory in the First Gulf War.
