Why did Vietnamization fail 1969-1975 – Flashcards

Economic: he was corrupt and carried out no economic reform facing the poor harvest in 1972. He was thus blamed for the economic hardship of Vietnam. This made his regime unpopular and the morale was low in ARVN.

Political and military: He didn't listen to US advice. e.g. in Lam Son offensive 1971 he refused to send the number of troops the US recommended. He restarted the war in 1974, with the awareness that ARVN troops were significantly weaker than PAVN.

He was a puppet of the US, excluded from the peace talk from 1969 to 1972. Thus the decision made in Paris Peace Accords were not his fault. The harvest failure was a natural disaster, and the economy made worse by a rise in oil price. Neither under his control.

Social and economic: Communists were nationalist, aimed at reunification. They carried out land reforms and were therefore appealing to the peasantry.

Political and military: General Giap used guerrilla tactics and booby traps. Ho Chi Minh Trail which supplied food, men and weapons. PAVN was better-trained and more determined, their strength was demonstrated in large scale offensives such as March offensive 1972.

Communists had fewer advanced weapons from the USSR and China at this point due to detente. Communists had defeats, 1970 Cambodia campaign destroyed large quantities of Communist war materials. The North was economically exhausted from the war as well.

Increasing B-52 bombing on the North, Laos and South Vietnam. e.g. Operation Menu. This turned South Vietnamese to Communism. Operation Phoenix 1968 to 1972 which tortured suspects and triggered resentment.

US was uncommitted to Vietnam, they withdrew swiftly and were all gone by 1973, Congress cut off all the money to Vietnam War in 1973. The US trained ARVN in American way, used to US advanced equipment, but left them without sufficient petrol and ammunition.

Firstly, their commitment made Vietnamisation seemed unnecessary as the US was still fighting for the Vietnam. Secondly, unpopular tactics made Thieu's regime unpopular therefore South Vietnamese were unwilling to fight in the ARVN.

Military strength, popularity and morale, financial and material strength, political support.

Nixon's attempt to train the ARVN so that they could fight for themselves against the Communists, allowing the US to withdraw.