Tet Offensive

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The Tet Offensive was a major 1968 campaign of surprise attacks by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces across South Vietnam that dramatically shifted U.S. public opinion and marked a turning point in the Vietnam War.


Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf campaign of the Vietnam War
military offensive
belligerent Army of the Republic of Vietnam
People's Army of Vietnam
United States Armed Forces
Viet Cong
casualties heavy casualties for North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces
significant civilian casualties in South Vietnam
codename General Offensive and Uprising
commander Nguyen Chi Thanh (early planning influence)
Vo Nguyen Giap (strategic planning role)
William C. Westmoreland (U.S. forces)
conflict Vietnam War
countryInvolved Australia
New Zealand
North Vietnam
South Korea
South Vietnam
Thailand
United States
date launched during Tet lunar new year holiday
effect beginning of de-escalation of U.S. ground involvement in Vietnam
decision by U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson not to seek re-election
erosion of U.S. public confidence in official claims of progress
increased anti-war movement in the United States
shift in U.S. public opinion against the Vietnam War
endDate 1968-09-23
location Hue
Khe Sanh area
Saigon
South Vietnam
U.S. bases in South Vietnam
mediaCoverage extensive television coverage in the United States
namedAfter Tet holiday
notableImage images of fighting in U.S. Embassy compound in Saigon
photograph of execution of Nguyen Van Lem
objective incite popular uprising in South Vietnam
undermine U.S. and South Vietnamese morale
partOf Vietnam War
result military victory for United States and South Vietnam in tactical terms
strategic and political victory for North Vietnam and Viet Cong
significantEvent Battle of Hue
Battle of Khe Sanh (related phase)
attack on U.S. Embassy in Saigon
startDate 1968-01-30
strategy surprise attacks across urban centers and military installations
turningPointIn U.S. domestic support for the Vietnam War
overall course of the Vietnam War
year 1968


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