Battle of Dien Bien Phu

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The Battle of Dien Bien Phu was a decisive 1954 confrontation in Vietnam in which Viet Minh forces defeated the French, leading to the end of French colonial rule in Indochina.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf battle
military engagement
alsoKnownAs Dien Bien Phu
belligerent France
French Union
State of Vietnam
T’ai Federation
Viet Minh
casualties heavy on both sides
combatantType regular army vs revolutionary forces
commander Christian de Castries
Henri Navarre
Vo Nguyen Giap
conflictOf First Indochina War
countryAtTime French Indochina
endDate 1954-05-07
hasMediaType subject of documentaries
subject of feature films
subject of numerous books
historicalSignificance major victory for anti-colonial movements
marked the end of French colonial rule in Indochina
set stage for Vietnam War
influenced Geneva Conference (1954)
ledTo Geneva Accords (1954)
partition of Vietnam at the 17th parallel
withdrawal of France from Indochina
location Dien Bien Phu
northwestern Vietnam
namedAfter Dien Bien Phu valley
notableFeature air-supplied French garrison
construction of Viet Minh trench networks approaching French positions
extensive use of artillery by Viet Minh from surrounding hills
outcome French garrison surrendered
large number of French Union troops taken prisoner
partOf First Indochina War
result collapse of French colonial rule in Indochina
decisive Viet Minh victory
defeat of French Union forces
end of major French military presence in Indochina
startDate 1954-03-13
strategy French attempt to draw Viet Minh into set-piece battle
Viet Minh siege and encirclement of French base
supportedBy People's Republic of China
Soviet Union
United States (for French side, mainly with material aid)
theater Indochina
timePeriod Cold War
decolonization era

Referenced by (7)

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