War in Vietnam

The war in Vietnam is one of the largest military conflicts taking place in the second half of the 20th century. In the culture of the United States and Vietnam, he left a notable mark and occupied a significant place in the recent history of these countries.

The war in South Vietnam began as a civil war. Then Northern Vietnam intervened in it, enlisting the support of China and the USSR, the United States and a number of other countries. So, on the one hand, there was a struggle for the reunification of the two parts of Vietnam itself to create an indivisible state, and on the other, to preserve the independence of the southern part of the country.

As events unfolded, the war intertwined with parallel civil wars in Cambodia and Laos. All the fighting that took place in 1950-1975 in South-East Asia, have the name of the Second Indochina War.

The reasons for the Vietnam War were quite simple. The Communist regime of the President of North Vietnam was supported by the Soviet Union. In turn, the US feared that in the future the influence of the USSR will spread, and military bases will appear in the immediate vicinity of the United States.

In addition, there were geopolitical reasons. The presence of a naval base on the territory of Vietnam would allow controlling the sea route to Japan and China from the Indian Ocean, as well as the main sea highway Europe-Far East.

The control (military, economic or at least political) of the whole of Vietnam would give an opportunity for a confident influence on the neighboring countries - Laos and Cambodia, and through them - to Malaysia, Thailand, Burma (Myanmar), and also would guarantee a number of additional opportunities in case of confrontation with China.

The war in Vietnam among the inhabitants of this country was called the American or Liberation. At the same time, it became civil, during which the political opposing parties of the country fought among themselves, and this was the case when there was a struggle with the American occupiers who seized power in the southern part.

In 1955, when Vietnam was liberated from the power of France and ceased to be its colony, it split into two parts. The northern part was supported by the USSR, since it was under the control of the Communist Party, while the southern part was actually controlled by the United States. According to the Geneva Agreement, the country was subject to unification, and hence, further presidential elections.

This decision was rejected by the president of the southern part - Ngo Din Ziem. The response was followed by the organization of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, one of the leaders of the Communist Party of the country. Accordingly, Ngo Din Ziem enlisted the support of the United States, who introduced their troops in the early 60's to the territory of South Vietnam.

It was here that the war in Vietnam took place before August 1964, and then the northern part of the country was drawn in. All this has acquired a protracted character. The American side had the power of modern technology, and for the Vietnamese this struggle was fought for the freedom and independence of its own country. This is what gave them confidence, desperate courage and the will to win.

And only in 1973 on January 27 the parties signed the peaceful Paris agreements, which prescribed a ceasefire throughout Vietnam. Although the Vietnam war completely ended in 1975, when the South Vietnamese troops surrendered Saigon on April 30.

And only in 1976 there was the adoption of the constitution of a new state, henceforth called the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh became her first president.

During the years of struggle, the Vietnamese lost a huge amount of equipment, ammunition and population, including peaceful. But the US Air Force's losses in Vietnam were very significant: 2,255 aircraft and helicopters, including 1737 from enemy fire. But the heaviest losses were from anti-aircraft missile systems delivered from the USSR.