Tet Offensive 1968: Turning point in Vietnam

Osprey Campaign #4

by James R. Arnold

Osprey's study of the 1968 Tet Offensive, which was the decisive battle for Vietnam (1955-1975). Masterminded by the brilliant North Vietnamese General, Vo Nguyen Giap, it was intended to trigger a general uprising in South Vietnam. However, the bloody fighting for Saigon, Hue and other cities actually resulted in a catastrophic defeat for the North. In this excellent assessment of the key battle of the Vietnam conflict, James Arnold details the plans and forces involved and explains how, despite the outcome of the battle, the American people and their leaders came to perceive the war for Vietnam as lost.

Genres: History, Military History, War, American History, American, Nonfiction, Military Fiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published May 24, 1990

Reviews

[Payton Heaward · Rating 4 out of 5]

It gives plentiful information on even the most specific details of the tet offensive, including enemy operations, tactics used by the vc and usa, and plenty more.

[Marcus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Format of Osprey's Campaign series works very well with set piece battles and minor operations. However, as this books so well illustrates, slightly over 90 pages will not be enough when the topic is a major military offensive. There simply isn't enough space to cover all vital aspects of such a massive engagement like Tet Offensive in so limited space. The author really does his best and pulls of a suprisingly good job here, but in the final analysis this book cannot be regarded as anything more than a very short introduction to this operation.

[Sean Chick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poor writing style hurts one of the best and most fair Vietnam War books I have read. Arnold doesn't shy away from exposing how the press played a pivotal role in hurting our war effort, yet he points out that given American strategy and leadership, along with the tenacity of the Communists, victory was unlikely from the beginning.

[Bruinrefugee · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much was going on during the Tet Offensive that it is difficult to boil it down to this series' format. That said, this is a solid attempt to do so.

[Craig Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good overview of the Tet Offensive and some great photos and drawings.