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Osprey Campaign #366
Dien Bien Phu 1954: The French Defeat that Lured America into Vietnam
A highly illustrated study of the battle at Dien Bien Phu, the 56-day siege that eventually led to the surrender of the remaining French-led forces, this iconic battle provided the climax of the First Indochina War.
In late 1953, the seventh year of France's war against the Viet Minh insurgency in its colony of Vietnam, the C-in-C, General Navarre, was encouraged to plant an 'air-ground base' in the Thai Highlands at Dien Bien Phu, to distract General Giap's Vietnamese People's Army from both Annam and the French northern heartland in the Red River Delta, and to protect the Laotian border. Elite French paratroopers captured Dien Bien Phu, which was reinforced between December 1953 and February 1954 with infantry and artillery, a squadron of tanks and one of fighter-bombers, to a strength of 10,000 men. Giap and the VPA General Staff accepted the challenge of a major positional battle; through a total mobilization of national resources, and with Chinese logistical help, they assembled a siege army of 58,000 regular troops, equipped for the first time with 105mm artillery and 37mm AA guns. Here, author Martin Windrow describes how from their first assaults on 13 March 1954, the battle quickly developed into a dramatic 56-day 'Stalingrad in the jungle' that drew the attention of the world.
In late 1953, the seventh year of France's war against the Viet Minh insurgency in its colony of Vietnam, the C-in-C, General Navarre, was encouraged to plant an 'air-ground base' in the Thai Highlands at Dien Bien Phu, to distract General Giap's Vietnamese People's Army from both Annam and the French northern heartland in the Red River Delta, and to protect the Laotian border. Elite French paratroopers captured Dien Bien Phu, which was reinforced between December 1953 and February 1954 with infantry and artillery, a squadron of tanks and one of fighter-bombers, to a strength of 10,000 men. Giap and the VPA General Staff accepted the challenge of a major positional battle; through a total mobilization of national resources, and with Chinese logistical help, they assembled a siege army of 58,000 regular troops, equipped for the first time with 105mm artillery and 37mm AA guns. Here, author Martin Windrow describes how from their first assaults on 13 March 1954, the battle quickly developed into a dramatic 56-day 'Stalingrad in the jungle' that drew the attention of the world.
- GenresMilitary History
96 pages, Paperback
Published August 17, 2021
About the author
Martin Windrow
138 books26 followersMartin C. Windrow is a British historian, editor and author of several hundred books, articles and monographs, particularly those on organizational or physical details of military history, and the history of the post-war French Foreign Legion. He has been published since the mid-Sixties.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 17, 2025
informative about one of the most important battles
Dien Bien Phi was very decisive in the the 20th century which led too the division of Vietnam. This led too the USA intervention which led too one of the most important events in the 20th century . Informative about the unit actions and both French and Vietminh. Perfect for history enthusiasts
Dien Bien Phi was very decisive in the the 20th century which led too the division of Vietnam. This led too the USA intervention which led too one of the most important events in the 20th century . Informative about the unit actions and both French and Vietminh. Perfect for history enthusiasts
May 1, 2022
Ottimo per alcune cose, di meno per altre.
La ricostruzione degli eventi bellici di quei mesi di lotta e assedio è maniacale e precisissima, oltre ad essere corredata dalle solite splendide mappe, tabelle della Osprey. Si giunge al livello del battaglione. Si possono seguire i combattimenti quasi minuto per minuto. Precisione che trova compimento nella paginata finale con tutte le sigle usate (quasi una per ogni unità, in pratica).
Manca tuttavia ogni accenno al prima e al dopo la battaglia, credo per mancanza di spazio. La battaglia, insomma, non è inserita in un contesto politico, diplomatico più ampio (come realmente fu: senza gli americani, i francesi non avrebbero potuto resistere così tanto).
Inoltre, l'impressione che ho avuto durante la lettura è che l'autore propendesse per i francesi, di cui sottolinea sempre la bravura, anche nel rapporto con le forze coloniali (più di metà dei "francesi" erano tailandesi, vietnamiti e nordafricani); impressione confermata dalla dedica a fine libro (se la leggete sarà chiaro).
Testo buono, dallo stile un po' arido, che va insomma affiancato con altri per avere un quadro completo.
La ricostruzione degli eventi bellici di quei mesi di lotta e assedio è maniacale e precisissima, oltre ad essere corredata dalle solite splendide mappe, tabelle della Osprey. Si giunge al livello del battaglione. Si possono seguire i combattimenti quasi minuto per minuto. Precisione che trova compimento nella paginata finale con tutte le sigle usate (quasi una per ogni unità, in pratica).
Manca tuttavia ogni accenno al prima e al dopo la battaglia, credo per mancanza di spazio. La battaglia, insomma, non è inserita in un contesto politico, diplomatico più ampio (come realmente fu: senza gli americani, i francesi non avrebbero potuto resistere così tanto).
Inoltre, l'impressione che ho avuto durante la lettura è che l'autore propendesse per i francesi, di cui sottolinea sempre la bravura, anche nel rapporto con le forze coloniali (più di metà dei "francesi" erano tailandesi, vietnamiti e nordafricani); impressione confermata dalla dedica a fine libro (se la leggete sarà chiaro).
Testo buono, dallo stile un po' arido, che va insomma affiancato con altri per avere un quadro completo.
September 5, 2021
Great read about a lost battle that compels the USA to enter into the Vietnam conflict
Great accuracy in the account of one of the most epic battle of the first Indochina war, with accurate casualties on the french side. No exact figures on the VPA are still available, however indications suggested great numbers of casualties and morale problems like the Russians experienced in Stalingrad. This work is one of the rare instances that a relatively small book contains a lot of information an new insights on the subject.
Great accuracy in the account of one of the most epic battle of the first Indochina war, with accurate casualties on the french side. No exact figures on the VPA are still available, however indications suggested great numbers of casualties and morale problems like the Russians experienced in Stalingrad. This work is one of the rare instances that a relatively small book contains a lot of information an new insights on the subject.
August 11, 2026
I generally find account of modern battles that take place over the course of weeks & months a little bit dry & hard to follow but I think the author has done a good job creating an overarching narrative & a sense of how the situation on the ground progressed over time. Also provides good context for how the battle was influenced by & influenced the course of the war as a whole.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews