Content #051

Museum of Dien Bien Phu Victory. Điện Biên Phủ, Vietnam 2008
‘Dien Bien Phu was a serious defeat for the French and was the decisive battle of the Indochina war. The garrison constituted roughly one-tenth of the total French Union manpower in Indochina, and the defeat seriously weakened the position and prestige of the French; it produced psychological repercussions both in the armed forces and in the political structure in France. This was apparent with the previously planned negotiations over the future of Indochina, which had just begun. Militarily there was no point in France fighting on, as the Viet Minh could repeat the strategy and tactics of the Dien Bien Phu campaign elsewhere, to which the French had no effective response. News of Dien Bien Phu’s fall was announced in France several hours after the surrender, around 4:45pm, by Prime Minister Joseph Laniel. The Archbishop of Paris ordered a mass, while radio performances were cancelled and replaced by solemn music, notably Berlioz’ Requiem. Theatres and restaurants closed and many social engagements were cancelled as a mark of respect. Public opinion in France registered shock that a guerilla army had defeated a major European power. Within a month the government of Laniel resigned, and the new Prime Minister, Pierre Mendès, formed a government with Communist Party support. Today, the former battlefield is one large historical site. Former French fortified positions such as Beatrice, Gabrielle, Eliane, the Bailey bridge and de Castries’ headquarters bunker have been preserved, all in relatively-good condition. Nearly 30 kilometres away from the centre of Dien Bien Phu is the Viet Minh army complex, containing shelters and trenches, which is also preserved in Muong Phang village. A 96-meter tunnel connects the working-places of General Võ Nguyên Giáp and General Hoàng Văn Thái. In addition, monuments and memorials to both sides are situated across the region, as are the few remaining French Chaffee tank wrecks scattered all throughout the valley, such as in the many rice paddy-fields of the area. Also, the same runway used by the French during the battle remains to this day and is still in active use, but it is made of concrete. The pierced-steel planking used by the French was taken up by villagers and used in construction of their homes and businesses.’ Bron: Wikipedia.