Approaching Vietnam: From World War II Through Dienbienphu, 1941-1954

On May 8th 1954 the French stronghold of Dienbienphu, in Vietnam, fell to the forces of Ho Chi Minh, ending 80 years of French rule. Dienbienphu is generally viewed as the beginning of the escalating involvement that led America into its longest war. In fact, Dienbienphu was merely the middle of a protracted struggle for Vietnam, a diplomatic struggle that had begun in 1941, as World War II raged. In this book, the author draws on documents never before analyzed, painting a complex picture of diplomatic manoeuvre and colonial ambition.