Vietnamisation

What was Vietnamisation?

Vietnamisation was a US policy to end American involvement in Vietnam by developing the South Vietnamese army.

When was the policy of Vietnamisation introduced?

The policy of Vietnamisation was officially announced on 3rd November, 1969. By spring 1972, when US forces attacked Laos, it was evident the policy was failing.

Who was involved in the policy of Vietnamisation?

The policy of Vietnamisation was the idea of President Nixon, who implemented it during his time in office.

What were the aims of the policy of Vietnamisation?

The policy of Vietnamisation had a number of aims:

• ❖ It aimed to make the ARVN self-sufficient, so it could defend South Vietnam without US support.
• ❖ This, in turn, would enable Nixon to withdraw US troops from Vietnam.

Why was the policy of Vietnamisation introduced?

The policy of Vietnamisation was introduced for a number of reasons:

• ❖ Nixon was realistic about the unlikelihood of victory in Vietnam, and knew he had to bring an end to the war.
• ❖ Nixon could not use nuclear weapons to do this, so he had to find another way.
• ❖ Nixon was anti-communist and did not want South Vietnam to fall to communism.
• ❖ Nixon believed the South Vietnamese should take responsibility for their own defence.
• ❖ Nixon needed to find a practical solution to the war quickly, as a poll in early 1969 showed 56 per cent of Americans thought US involvement in Vietnam was wrong.

What problems did President Nixon face when implementing the policy of Vietnamisation?

At the same time as Nixon implemented Vietnamisation, with the intention of withdrawing US troops, he was also extending the war into into Cambodia and Laos. For this, he needed more soldiers. In April 1970 he announced 100,000 more troops were needed, prompting widespread demonstrations across the USA.

How did the policy of Vietnamisation work?

There were a number of aspects to the policy of Vietnamisation:

• ❖ The USA was to provide training and equipment for the expansion of the ARVN.
• ❖ Local villagers would be recruited as civilian militia, in charge of securing rural areas.
• ❖ The ARVN would take a more direct role in seeking out the Vietcong. Since 1965 they had taken a back seat to the US.
• ❖ Between 1968 and 1971, the ARVN was increased from 393,000 to 532,000 troops.
• ❖ As the ARVN became more self-sufficient, US troops would be withdrawn from Vietnam. The first notable departure was on 7th July, 1969.
• ❖ By the beginning of 1970 the ARNV had been equipped with $4 billion worth of military supplies, including rifles, artillery, munitions, and helicopters.
• ❖ ARNV officers had received specialised training in command, military strategy, and counter-insurgency warfare.

What were the official peace talks during Vietnamisation?

Nixon began the long and difficult process of sending representatives to negotiate with both North and South Vietnam, as well as the Vietcong.

What were the secret peace talks during Vietnamisation?

Nixon held secret peace talks with North Vietnam's leader, Le Duc Tho, sending Henry Kissinger to negotiate.

How many US troops were withdrawn during Vietnamisation?

President Nixon said he was decreasing the number of US troops in Vietnam by 25,000. The withdrawal started in July 1969.

Why did they train the ARVN during Vietnamisation?

General Abrams was ordered to focus on training the ARVN so it could continue the war without the support of US troops.

What were the secret bombings ordered by Nixon during Vietnamisation?

In March 1969, President Nixon ordered bombs to be dropped on the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Cambodia. He did this due to the presence of Vietnamese communists and because it was also being used as a supply trail. He wanted to pressure the North Vietnamese into negotiating.

Was the policy of Vietnamisation successful?

The policy of Vietnamisation made South Vietnam one of the most militarised countries in Asia, and half the South Vietnamese population had been recruited. But it was a failure.

Why did Vietnamisation fail?

Vietnamisation failed for a number of reasons.

• ❖ There was a poor harvest in 1972.
• ❖ There was corruption and theft.
• ❖ The US did not provide enough funding.
• ❖ The ARVN soldiers were not adequately trained.
• ❖ The South Vietnamese government was very unpopular.
• ❖ The ARVN was militarily weak and corrupt.
• ❖ South Vietnam was economically weak.

How did the harvest cause Vietnamisation to fail?

In 1972, a poor harvest led to economic hardship. Little or no support was given to the South Vietnamese people.

How did corruption cause Vietnamisation to fail?

The stealing of supplies and equipment was common. Officers regularly took bribes, which allowed thieves to steal goods. This cost the US Army millions of dollars in lost equipment, and meant that troops were not adequately supplied. This made winning the war harder.

How did funding cause the failure of Vietnamisation?

The amount of funding available was restricted by the US Congress. This limited the capability and options available to the US military.

How did the inadequate training of the ARVN troops lead to the failure of the policy of Vietnamisation?

The training of ARVN troops was rushed. Instructions for equipment use and operation were given in English, which the Vietnamese could not understand. Without US support, the ARVN was unable to continue fighting.

How did the unpopularity of the South Vietnamese government lead to the failure of the policy of Vietnamisation?

The South Vietnamese people disliked their own government. It was weak and divided, and they saw it as a puppet of a US administration that was also corrupt. It could not survive without billions of dollars of aid provided by America.

How did the military weaknesses and the corruption of the ARNV lead to the failure of the policy of Vietnamisation?

American had thrown significant funding at the ARVN, but they couldn't change the fact it was a much divided organisation, riddled with corruption and incompetence. Even though the US had provided training, its leaders were incapable of commanding the respect of their men, and did not have the morale needed to combat the Vietcong.

How did the economic weaknesses of South Vietnam lead to the failure of the policy of Vietnamisation?

The USA had been propping up the South Vietnamese government since the 1950s, and it had become dependent on American funding. At the same time, the US was looking to gradually withdraw funding, while the USSR and China were sending significant funds to the government in North Vietnam.