Battle of Ðiện Biên Phủ facts for kids
The Battle of Điện Biên Phủ was a very important fight in 1954. It happened in Vietnam between Vietnamese soldiers and French soldiers. The Vietnamese army won this battle. This victory made the French decide to stop fighting in the First Indochina War. It helped Vietnam become independent. After this, Vietnam was split into North and South. Later, the Vietnam War began.
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The Battle of Điện Biên Phủ
Why the Battle Started
The French army wanted to win the war. They started something called "Operation Castor." French soldiers flew in planes and parachuted into a place called Điện Biên Phủ. This area was deep in the hills of northwestern Vietnam. It was controlled by the Vietnamese fighters, known as the Việt Minh.
The French built a strong base there. They also made an airstrip to bring in supplies for their soldiers. The French hoped to trick the Vietnamese fighters into a big battle. They wanted to use their powerful guns and many weapons to defeat the Vietnamese. General Võ Nguyên Giáp led the Vietnamese fighters.
The Việt Minh's Clever Plan
The Việt Minh did not fall for the French trap. Instead, they surprised the French. They brought in heavy artillery (big guns) that they got from China. It was very hard to move these guns into the hilly area.
The Việt Minh also had many more soldiers. At first, they tried to attack the French in large groups. But they stopped this plan later. They started digging long, deep trenches. These trenches helped them get closer to the French base safely.
The Vietnamese also used their big guns to shoot down French planes. They destroyed the French airstrip. This made it very hard for the French to get supplies or help. The Việt Minh kept firing their guns at the French soldiers.
The French Surrender
The fighting at Điện Biên Phủ lasted for two months. The French soldiers were trapped and running out of supplies. In May 1954, the French soldiers at Điện Biên Phủ surrendered. By then, their army had grown from 12,000 to over 15,000 soldiers.
After many years of fighting and this big loss, France decided they did not want to continue the war.
What Happened Next
This battle was a huge moment in history. It was the first time an army from an Asian colony defeated a European army in a big military fight. It was a big shock for France and other Western countries.
Because of this defeat, France decided to leave French Indochina. They talked about peace and then pulled their soldiers out. This victory also inspired other French colonies in Africa. Many of them fought for their freedom. By 1967, most of the French colonial empire was gone.
