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Did you realise that today is the 50th anniversary of the start of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, which led to the beginning of the end for French Indochina, and would in turn lead to the Vietnam conflict?
Just thought you might like to know that, for more info visit http://www.dienbienphu.org/english/index.htm

Ozzy

If I recall, it was the first "set piece" battle fought by the Viet Minh, and a classic text book example of what not to get yourself into  - defending (relatively) open ground, surrounded by higher ground, with defensive positions widely separated and easily cut off.

Aye Felix that was indeed the case. The French soldiers trapped there fought bravely if not intelligently... Not their finest hour in many peoples eyes, but it certainly proved their courage in the face of impossible odds.

From what I recall reading, many of the French Foreign Legion soliders in the battle were actually German, former "Wermacht" soldiers, unemployed after the war.

I cannot, however, vouch for the accuracy of the statement.

From what I recall reading, many of the French Foreign Legion soliders in the battle were actually German, former "Wermacht" soldiers, unemployed after the war.

I was reading a book about Rommel by Desmond Young (I think), and he said that after the war, many of the people who were soldiers didn't know what to do, so it wouldn't surprise me if they went and joined the Foreign Legion.

Regards,
Stratobat

It has been an interesting study at many military sections...I will not make a point or directing your attention to any particular section but history has been recorded once again.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

It is indeed true that many former Wehrmacht soldiers joined the Legion, fearing prosecution at home. They joined battle in nearly all of Frances colonial wars for the next two decades, and always excelled in battle. But normally at a terrible price

My trusty History Channel had doco on Dien Bien Phu a few months ago.

The big 'mistake' per se, was that the French didn't think that it would be possible for the Viet Minh to get any kind of decent firepower onto the surrounding heights. But, true to form, the Viet Minh as usual, urged on by that 'patriotic' fervour that people fighting in their own land manage to muster, 'man (and women) handled' huge artillery peices thru and up terrain that was considered virtually impossible to negotiate even with modern equipment etc.  :o

(P.S. Please remind me if the French have actually ever had 'a finest hour' as such??)........whoops......

(P.S. Please remind me if the French have actually ever had 'a finest hour' as such??)........whoops......

Umm....*thinks*............*thinks*.............................*thinks*................................*thinks*....................................*thinks*..............................Jeanne D'Arc ??  ???

Henri "Papillon" Charriere?

(P.S. Please remind me if the French have actually ever had 'a finest hour' as such??)........whoops......

Battle of Yorktown, 1781.  Combined American - French forces, with support from the French Fleet defeated a Britsh force, effectively ending the military phase of the (U.S.) War of Independence.

Under Napoleon, the French did have a series of successful battles, and the influence of Napoleonic strategy and tactics (inlcuding advances in the logistics of moving armies) influenced military thinking past the US Civil War.

However, the French military "might" was largley based on the Napoleonic glory days, which met its match in the short-lived and disastrous Franco-Prussian War of 1870.