Misplaced Pages

#341658

78-504: It should not be confused with the opposing Communist-led military force which has once adopted the synonymous name National Army of Vietnam (also Quân đội Quốc gia Việt Nam ) in about the same period but then soon renamed itself as the existing Vietnam People’s Army . On 30 December 1955, the VNA was reorganized as the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces . The Vietnamese National Army

156-853: A Saint-Cyr styled saber as new officers of the armed forces. As a symbol of the handover of self-defense responsibility of the whole Vietnam to the VNA, the senior class fired 4 traditional arrows in each direction (the arrows being a symbol of the old days of imperial Vietnam and its armed forces). Alumni of the Vatchay Light Infantry Commando school located in the Halong Bay , were trained to anti-guerrilla warfare including bayonet fighting, close quarters combat , jujutsu art, river crossing, basic rope bridge (known as "monkey bridge") crossing, enhanced camouflage , minefield crossing, barbed wire field crossing and trench warfare . Military ranks were organized after

234-562: A college major upon graduation, military and leadership education is nested with academic instruction. The course is three years long and covers academic training, military strategy and theory, practice of war, training, physical training and leadership and organisational training. The first-year involves military training and academics. The last two years focus on academics with one to three week breaks for military training. Officer cadets at St-Cyr are commissioned officers. The cadets attend school from September to July. Each promotion (class) of

312-437: A dark-blue tunic, red trousers (red skirts for female cadets) and a shako with red and white plumes. Tunic facings and trouser stripes are light blue, as is the képi worn on less formal occasions. Red fringed epaulettes are worn by cadets and yellow by cadet-officers. This traditional uniform was worn by both cadets and instructors at Saint-Cyr from 1845 until 1914 and then again from 1930 until 1939. After World War II it

390-748: A large number of young officers and generals who served during the Napoleonic Wars , and later Napoleon III created the Prince Imperial division for family members, It remained stationed in Saint-Cyr-l'École after Napoleon's deposition and through all regime changes until 1940. After the defeat of the French Army against Germany in 1940, the school moved to the free zone , in the south of France, in Aix-en-Provence . After

468-620: A minor reform in 2002 devised to broaden the diversity of its recruitment. Since 1802, 65,000 Saint-Cyriens have been trained, along with 2,000 international cadets. Of the French graduates 9,639 died on the field of battle. Alumni also count 11 Maréchaux de France , three French heads of state , two flying aces , six members of the Académie Française , and one Saint of the Catholic Church . The school has links with

546-513: A name. It can be a nickname ( du Firmament , "of the Stars", for the first one), the name of a famous battle ( Sevastopol for the 1855–56 Class), the name of a famous soldier or general ( Bayard , 1923–25 Class, Foch , 1928–30 Class). Since 1934, every class also chooses a special insignia. Cadets of Saint-Cyr wear in full dress ( grand uniforme or GU ) a special uniform, derived from the 1845 Regulations Infantry Officer Dress. This dress incorporates

624-520: A national government for a united Vietnam. Neither the United States government nor Ngô Đình Diệm's State of Vietnam signed anything at the 1954 Geneva Conference. With respect to the question of reunification, the non-communist Vietnamese delegation objected strenuously to any division of Vietnam, but lost out when the French accepted the proposal of Việt Minh delegate Phạm Văn Đồng , who proposed that Vietnam eventually be united by elections under

702-633: A socio-political coalition lead by the Communist Party of Vietnam forming the Vietnamese government – is recognized as the modern incarnation of the Việt Minh front in current Vietnamese politics . The League for Independence of Vietnam (Viet Minh) was founded on 19 May 1941 in Pác Bó , Cao Bằng province (in northern Vietnam). Ho Chi Minh was the founder and his Communist Party of Indochina

780-527: Is the École de guerre  [ fr ] (EdG) (School of Warfare), located in the École militaire complex, in Paris. French students who enter Saint-Cyr as cadets are about 21 years old, and undergo three years of training. All ESM cadets graduate with a Master of Arts or a Master of Science and are commissioned officers . The academy was founded in Fontainebleau in 1802 by Napoleon . It

858-403: Is the grand soir or "big night". At the end of the second year, cadets are officially commissioned second lieutenants. This is celebrated in the "baptism" ( baptême ) of the class, a ceremony in which every cadet receive the accolade from a senior officer. At the end of the third and final year, the cadets are promoted to the rank of lieutenant and receive their new insignia in a ceremony called

SECTION 10

#1732772046342

936-517: Is the date of many Saint-Cyr related celebrations in the Army proper or among the alumni associations made up of graduates of the school. Cadets are recruited through a national annual competitive exam, after previous tertiary education. French students take exams on general knowledge, aptitude and intelligence; sit for an interview and pass a test of physical ability. In addition, a number of foreign students are admitted annually. As all officers obtain

1014-557: The 17th Parallel as a temporary measure until unifying elections could take place in 1956. Transfer of civil administration of North Vietnam to the Viet Minh was given on 11 October 1954. Ho Chi Minh was appointed Prime Minister of North Vietnam , which would be run as a socialist state . Ngo Dinh Diem , who was previously appointed Prime Minister of South Vietnam by Emperor Bao Dại , eventually assumed control of South Vietnam. The Geneva Accords promised elections in 1956 to determine

1092-592: The 1954 Geneva Conference . Khmer Issarak and United Issarak Front were under leadership of Son Ngoc Minh , Tou Samouth , Sieu Heng, etc. It was a derogatory term used by Norodom Sihanouk , dismissing the Cambodian leftists who had been organizing pro-independence agitations in alliance with the Vietnamese. Sihanouk's public criticism and mockery of the Khmer Issarak had the damaging effect of increasing

1170-554: The French Union . However Laotian communists rejected the French offer and fought side by side with Vietnamese communists during the First Indochina War . In 1950, Lao Issara was renamed to Pathet Lao ( Laos Nation ) under leadership of Souphanouvong , Kaysone Phomvihane , Phoumi Vongvichit , etc. Ecole Sp%C3%A9ciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr The École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr ( ESM , literally

1248-456: The French army 's hierarchy. Shoulder patch insignia would have three, two or one bar or star. Generals would have three stars while NCO officers with a straight bar ( Sous-Lieutenant for "1st Lieutenant") were called Ong Mot ("Mister One") and those with two straight bars ( Lieutenant for "2nd Lieutenant") were unofficially named Ong Hai ("Mister Two"). Since anyone working for the government

1326-615: The GCMA special forces. The VNA air force first took part in the First Indochina War during the joint Operation Atlas in April 1953. The aviation consisted of Morane Saulnier MS-500 reconnaissance planes and Douglas DC-3 and DC-4 transport aircraft useful in airborne operations. The navy included amphibious vehicles such as Landing Craft Infantry , Landing Craft Mechanized , small craft and materiel. The Marine Troops corps

1404-645: The Japanese occupation in 1944, General de Lattre reformed the EETED as the Dalat School for Children of Soldiers ( Ecole des Enfants de Troupe de Dalat ) in 1950. In 1953, the cadres formation raised with 54 new battalions raised and hundreds of young Vietnamese officers commissioned. By November the Vietnamese National Army was almost wholly manned by Vietnamese personnel of all ranks. On

1482-682: The Royal Military College of Canada , United States Military Academy (West Point), and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Britain, including student exchanges. Napoleon's original motto, " Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre " ("They study to overcome/conquer/win"), was changed by the restoration king, Louis XVIII, to: " Ils s'instruisent pour la Défense de la Patrie " ("They study for the Defence of

1560-663: The SDECE French intelligence agency. Some of them would be used as cadres in the North Vietnam Commandos ( Commandos Nord Viêt-nam ). In 1951, French General de Lattre commander of the CEFEO ordered for the creation of the North Vietnam Commandos to Louis Fourcade. These remained operational until 1954 with Fourcade as the "Big Boss" ( le Grand Patron ) until June 21, 1953. Their mission

1638-537: The casoar on their service kepis. The various steps of the cadets' formation are celebrated in various ceremonies, all performed during nighttime. At the beginning of the first year, after boot camp, the cadets are welcomed with shakos granted to them by the third-year cadets. This is called the petit soir or "small night". At the end of the first year, the cadets are presented with the Casoar (the red and white plumes on their shakos) and with their officer's sword. This

SECTION 20

#1732772046342

1716-721: The ongoing famine . As of the end of 1944, the Việt Minh claimed a membership of 500,000, of which 200,000 were in Tonkin , 150,000 in Annam , and 150,000 in Cochinchina . After the Japanese coup d'état in French Indochina , the Viet Minh and ICP prolifically expanded their activities. They formed national salvation associations (cuu quoc hoi) that, in Quảng Ngãi province alone, enlisted 100,000 peasants by mid-1945. This

1794-597: The "Special Military School of Saint-Cyr") is a French military academy , and is often referred to as Saint-Cyr ( French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ siʁ] ). It is located in Coëtquidan in Guer , Morbihan , Brittany . Its motto is Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre , literally meaning "They study to vanquish" or, more freely put, "Training for victory". French cadet officers are called saint-cyriens or cyrards . France's other most senior military education institute

1872-516: The "triumph" ( triomphe ). This ceremony is also the time of solemn proclamation of the class name. Using authentic battle gear and uniforms of the period, re-enactments of famous battles and ceremonies are regularly staged. The most famous of these is the Battle of Austerlitz , which took place on 2 December 1805 and has been celebrated ever since. 2 December, nicknamed "2S" by the Saint-Cyr cadets,

1950-651: The ANV formed six mobile groups - the GM 11, 21, 31, 32, 41 and 42 - made up of three infantry battalions and an artillery group, as well as an airborne group, groupement aéroporté 3. Airborne regiments including paratrooper "TDND" ( Tieu Doan Nhay Du , "Commando Battalion"), the so-called 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th BAWOUAN, were later created. These elite units were referred as the "BPVN" ( Bataillon de Parachutistes Viêt-Namiens , "Vietnamese Paratroopers Battalions") by their French allies. Some of these paratroopers were attached to

2028-706: The Chinese agreed to leave. Negotiations between the French and Việt Minh broke down quickly. What followed was nearly ten years of war against France. This was known as the First Indochina War or, to the Vietnamese; "the French War". The Việt Minh, who were short on modern military knowledge, created a military school in Quảng Ngãi province in June 1946. More than 400 Vietnamese were trained by Japanese defectors in this school. These soldiers were considered to be students of

2106-534: The Communist Party. At the national level, Viet Minh is governed by the General Department ( Tổng bộ ). Further down there were executive committees in provinces and cities; and executive commissions in communes. However, due to political turmoil and civil unrest at the time, plus conflicts with Japanese and French forces, the Viet Minh's General Department was not completely elected. Hence

2184-589: The Dalat military academy celebrated its first promotion ( Hoàng Diệu ) with a " baptism " which is the Saint Cyr -French West Point - fashion. Celebrating officials included Chief of State, H.M. Emperor Bảo Đại , Prime Minister Trần Văn Hữu , General Governor of French Indochina Gautier and French General Salan , commander of the CEFEO . The Emperor awarded the Hoàng Diệu promotion's senior and junior classes with

2262-645: The ESM in short sessions are France's Fourth Battalion . Upon graduation, cadets are awarded the diploma of Saint-Cyr, which is a master's degree in Strategy and International Relations or Management , or a military degree , depending on their major. Majors are in engineering or science subjects or specialization in classics, modern or ancient history, modern languages, applied modern languages, security, science and economics, law, computer science, physical education, political science or military studies. Graduates leave

2340-483: The ESM is organised as a battalion and thus the Corps of Cadets is structured as a regiment. The 1st-year students (rank of élève-officier – Cadet) are France's Third Battalion , 2nd-year (rank of aspirant – Officer Designate) are France's Second Battalion and third-year (rank of sous-lieutenant – 2nd Lieutenant) are France's First Battalion . The Reserve Officers, Special Duty Officers and Aspirants trained at

2418-499: The Fatherland"). The Napoleonic version was used again from 1848 to 1870. That motto was next changed to " Honneur et Patrie " ("Honour and Fatherland") until 1918, when it reverted again to the original Napoleonic wording. The museum is open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings from 10 a.m. – 12 a.m. to group tours and afternoons to the public on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. On

Vietnamese National Army - Misplaced Pages Continue

2496-561: The French in the battles of Khai Phat and Na Ngan , the Việt Minh started a campaign against the Japanese. For instance, a raid at Tam Dao internment camp in Tonkin on 19 July 1945 saw 500 Viet Minh kill fifty Japanese soldiers and officials, freeing French civilian captives and escorting them to the Chinese border. The Viet Minh also fought the Japanese 21st Division in Thái Nguyên, and regularly raided rice storehouses to alleviate

2574-483: The Head-of-State, Bảo Đại made the most controversial decision concerning the armed forces of the new State of Vietnam: recognizing all non-communist military forces in the country as independent armies within the VNA. These forces included: Viet Binh Doan, Bao Chinh Doan, Bình Xuyên (approximately 40,000 strong), Hòa Hảo (30,000 men under different leaders) and Cao Đài (25,000 men). Doing so, Bảo Đại solved

2652-449: The ICP in 1941. They presented the organization as inclusive of political groups, with a founding charter more nationalist than communist. It exhorted "soldiers, workers, peasants, intellectuals, civil servants, merchants, young men and women" to overthrow "French jackals" and "Japanese fascists", while the group's first chairman was a non-communist. In all, the Việt Minh established itself as

2730-794: The Japanese, the Việt Minh received funding from the United States, the Soviet Union and the Republic of China . After the August Revolution 's takeover of nationalist organizations and Emperor Bảo Đại 's abdication to the Việt Minh, Hồ Chí Minh declared Vietnam's independence by proclaiming the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on 2 September 1945. Within days, the Chinese Kuomintang (Nationalist) Army arrived in Vietnam to supervise

2808-625: The Japanese. Later, some of them fought as generals against the United States in the Vietnam War or, to the Vietnamese; "the American War". Young insurgents of the Việt Minh also received training in the use of modern firearms by some foreign volunteers, such as Stefan Kubiak . French General Jean Étienne Valluy quickly pushed the Việt Minh out of Hanoi . His French infantry with armored units went through Hanoi, fighting small battles against isolated Việt Minh groups. The French encircled

2886-657: The Republic of Vietnam . After the fall of Saigon breaking in 1975, some joined the French Foreign Legion and others exiled to France or the United States. Benefiting with French cadres assistance and United States material support the VNA quickly became a modern army modeled after the CEFEO Expeditionary Corps . Officers and Non-commissioned officers were trained in local schools of cadres known in French as Ecoles des Cadres , or at

2964-665: The United States are members. Famous units of the VNA are: Notes : "ARVN" stands for Army of the Republic of Vietnam , "FFL" stands for French Foreign Legion , "USA" stands for United States Army , "VNA" stands for Vietnamese National Army . Viet Minh Việt Minh ( Vietnamese: [vîət mīŋ̟] , chữ Hán : 越盟 ) is the common and abbreviated name of the League for Independence of Vietnam ( Vietnamese : Việt Nam Độc lập Đồng minh or Việt Nam Độc lập Đồng minh Hội , chữ Hán : 越南獨立同盟(會) ; French : Ligue pour l'indépendance du Viêt Nam ), which

3042-501: The VNA fought alongside the French against the communist Việt Minh led by Ho Chi Minh during the First Indochina War . The French developed the VNA's strength as they sought to delegate more operations to native loyalist forces. Bảo Đại's army fought along the French Union forces during the until 1954 and the partition of Vietnam . In 1955, the State of Vietnam was dissolved and replaced by Ngô Đình Diệm 's Republic of Vietnam in

3120-584: The Viet Minh rebels." Diem refused to hold the elections by citing that the South had not signed and were not bound to the Geneva Accords and that it was impossible to hold free elections in the communist North. Vietnam wide elections never happened and Việt Minh cadres in South Vietnam launched an insurgency against the government. North Vietnam also occupied portions of Laos to assist in supplying

3198-469: The Việt Minh base, Việt Bắc , in 1947, but failed to defeat the Việt Minh forces, and had to retreat soon after. The campaign is now widely considered a Việt Minh victory over the well-equipped French force. The Việt Minh continued fighting against the French until 1949, when the border of China and Vietnam was linked together as a result of the campaign called Chiến dịch Biên giới ("Borderland Campaign"). The newly communist People's Republic of China gave

Vietnamese National Army - Misplaced Pages Continue

3276-600: The Việt Minh both sheltered bases and heavy weapons with which to fight the French. With the additional weapons, the Việt Minh were able to take control over many rural areas of the country. Soon after that, they began to advance towards the French-occupied areas. On 7 March 1951, Viet Minh and National United League of Vietnam ( Hội Liên Việt ) merged to form the Vietnamese United Front ( Mặt trận Liên Việt ). Nonetheless, people continued to call

3354-617: The World War II U.S. or Australian Imperial similar Slouch hat ( chapeau de brousse nicknamed "broussard"). Uniforms were mixed U.S., French and British ( SAS airborne). Heavier equipment of the armoured cavalry was made of World War II vintage U.S. light tanks as they had the ability to be drop stripped and assembled by specialized engineering companies on location. Việt Minh captured arms like German Karabiner 98k with bayonet , U.S. Browning MGs or Japanese "knee mortars" were sometimes used. These arms would often be supplied to

3432-483: The command of General de Lattre de Tassigny and settled in the somewhat remote and isolated military camp of Coëtquidan, Morbihan , because the " vieux bahut " (old school) had been severely damaged by an Allied bombing during the Libération campaign. Saint-Cyr has remained there to this day. A reform in 1961 split the school into two entities: the current École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr (ESM), devoted to

3510-404: The details about members of the General Department were very scarce and not fully understood. Viet Minh established strongholds in northern and central Vietnam. But in southern Vietnam, Viet Minh faced many challengers such as Cao Đài , Hòa Hảo (religious sects) and Bình Xuyên (armed group). The founding and core members of Viet Minh were the communists. Other non-communists also joined

3588-606: The elite National Military Academy, Dalat (EETD). The Dalat Preparatory Military School ( école militaire préparatoire, EMP ) was led by its first director Lieutenant Savani, a metropolitan French who was educated in the Autun EMP. It was created in 1936 after the Autun EMP as the Dalat School of the Eurasian Servicemen's Children ( Ecole des Enfants de Troupe Eurasiens de Dalat, EETED ). Once dissolved during

3666-639: The front. Even though many opposite parties fought against Viet Minh for power, many of their members joined Viet Minh and worked with the government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam . The majority of Buddhists supported Viet Minh, whereas the majority of Catholics supported French. Cao Đài and Hòa Hảo were split between pro-Viet Minh group and pro-French group. Viet Minh established many youth wing, woman wing and military wing. They aimed to draw supports from people of different backgrounds, classes, races, genders and religions. During World War II, Japan occupied French Indochina . As well as fighting

3744-809: The guerrillas by China as captured material from the Chinese Civil War (the NRA had been supplied by both Nazi Germany and the USA) or left behind by the Japanese Southern Expeditionary Army Group after the Pacific War . With the 1954 cease-fire, pro-French and optimistic General Nguyễn Văn Hinh stated that as early as 1955 "a Vietnamese division will be sent to France as compensation for sacrifices in Indochina by

3822-466: The insurgents known as the National Liberation Front ( Viet Cong ) in South Vietnam. The war gradually escalated into the Second Indochina War , more commonly known as the "Vietnam War" in the West and the "American War" in Vietnam. The Khmer Việt Minh were the 3,000 to 5,000 Cambodian communist cadres, left-wing members of the Khmer Issarak movement regrouped in the United Issarak Front after 1950, most of whom lived in exile in North Vietnam after

3900-405: The invasion of the free zone by the Germans in 1942, the school was disbanded, but French cadet officer training went on, part in Cherchell ( Algeria , then Free French territory) and part in the United Kingdom ( Cadets de la France Libre ) under General de Gaulle 's command, albeit under British supervision and guidance. At the Libération of France in 1944, the school was reunited under

3978-427: The latter. This great unit will participate in the defense of Europe as part of the opposition between the western and eastern blocs." However the European Defence Community project was rejected by France and Nguyễn Văn Hinh's French counter-intelligence SDECE / GCMA -backed planned coup (scheduled for end October 1954) against pro-USA and CIA -backed ( Edward Lansdale ) Ngô Đình Diệm failed. The Vietnamese general

SECTION 50

#1732772046342

4056-421: The new front as Viet Minh. Later the United Front changed into the current Vietnam Fatherland Front ( Mặt trận Tổ quốc Việt Nam ) on 10 September 1955. Following their defeat at the Battle of Điện Biên Phủ , the French began negotiations to leave Vietnam. As a result of peace accords worked out at the Geneva Conference in Geneva , Switzerland, Vietnam was divided into North Vietnam and South Vietnam at

4134-405: The newly appointed ambassador, U.S. Special Representative in Vietnam General J. Lawton Collins , sign the following agreements: Both generals acknowledge the size of the new force would be insufficient to protect South Viet Nam against an external aggression, hence ultimate reliance is placed on the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization ( Cold War era Asian equivalent to NATO ) which France and

4212-421: The only organized anti-French and anti-Japanese resistance group. The Việt Minh initially formed to seek independence for Vietnam from the French Empire . The United States supported France. When the Japanese occupation began, the Việt Minh opposed Japan with support from the United States and the Republic of China . After World War II, the Việt Minh established the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and opposed

4290-514: The other hand, until 1954 some Vietnamese were trained four months in Infantry Instruction Centers ( Centre d'Instruction de l'Infanterie, CII ) based in southern Vietnam. Once licensed these recruits would not be part of the VNA but the French CEFEO. Other officer and NCO alumni were coming from all French Union national armed forces including Cambodia , Overseas ( Martinique , Reunion , French Guiana ), metropolitan French and " French citizens " of French West Africa and India. On April 20, 1952,

4368-513: The power of the hardline, anti-Vietnamese, but also anti-monarchist, members of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK), led by Pol Pot . The Khmer Issarak and United Issarak Front were instrumental in the foundation of the Cambodian Salvation Front (FUNSK) in 1978. The FUNSK invaded Cambodia along with the Vietnamese Army and overthrew the Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot state. Many of the Khmer Việt Minh had married Vietnamese women during their long exile in Vietnam. Lao Issara ( Free Laos )

4446-602: The problem of having to spread the army too thin in the war against the Việt Minh. Furthermore, the independent forces did not need money from the central government since they either were self-financed through clandestine activities or they were armed and financed by Savani's 2e Bureau in Vietnam. The Bình Xuyên was an organized crime military force in Saigon that provided part of Bảo Đại's luxury life. In 1955, with Lansdale 's support, Prime Minister Diem ordered all forces to surrender their weapons and to be part of one army. Some groups joined willingly while others were attacked by

4524-413: The re-occupation of Vietnam by France, resulting in the Indochina War , and later opposed South Vietnam and the United States in the Vietnam War . It was also opposed by Vietnamese anti-communists and right-wing nationalists, such as the Việt Nam Quốc Dân Đảng , the reason for the establishment of the State of Vietnam in 1949. The political leader of Việt Minh was Hồ Chí Minh. The military leadership

4602-426: The referendum of 1955 using secret Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) funding, Diệm removed the Emperor and declared himself the president of the Republic of Vietnam . The United States believed Ho Chi Minh would win the nationwide election proposed at the Geneva Accords. In a secret memorandum, Director of CIA Allen Dulles acknowledged that "The evidence [shows] that a majority of the people of Vietnam supported

4680-425: The regular VNA. By late 1955, all these forces ceased to exist. Many of their ranks joined the NVA or the Việt Minh, while others returned to a civilian life. Just like in the CEFEO, most of the VNA's military equipment was World War II vintage. Firearms were mixed U.S. and French. Helmets were mostly U.S. M1 Helmet (and airborne version) with some French copy "Model 51" ( modèle 51 , M51) and certain units wearing

4758-413: The repatriation of the Imperial Japanese Army . The Democratic Republic of Vietnam therefore existed only in theory and effectively controlled no territory. A few months later, the Chinese, Vietnamese and French came to a three-way understanding. The French gave up certain rights in China, the Việt Minh agreed to the return of the French in exchange for promises of independence within the French Union , and

SECTION 60

#1732772046342

4836-403: The south while Ho Chi Minh's Democratic Republic of Vietnam remained the rival Vietnamese state in the north. In early May, civil war ensued in the capital of South Vietnam when the VNA fought General Lê Văn Viễn's Bình Xuyên forces in the latter's controlled areas of Saigon. By 1956 all French Union troops withdrew from Vietnam and most of the VNA officers remained in service in the Army of

4914-457: The supervision of "local commissions". The United States countered with what became known as the "American Plan", with the support of South Vietnam and the United Kingdom. It provided for unification elections under the supervision of the United Nations , but was rejected by the Soviet delegation. From his home in France, Vietnamese Emperor Bảo Đại appointed Ngô Đình Diệm as Prime Minister of South Vietnam . With United States support in rigging

4992-425: The then-official revolutionary calendar ), to replace the École Royale Militaire then located in Fontainebleau . Renamed the École Spéciale Impériale Militaire after Bonaparte was proclaimed emperor, it moved in 1808 to Saint-Cyr-l'École ( Yvelines ) in the castle of the former Maison royale de Saint-Louis , a school for girls of the French nobility disbanded at the time of the Revolution . The school trained

5070-496: The training of direct-recruitment officers, recruited through an annual national competitive exam, and the École Militaire Interarmes ( EMIA ), cadets from internal recruitment (selected from non-commissioned officer (NCO) ranks and reserve officer ranks) and added a third entity, the École Militaire du Corps Technique et Administratif (EMCTA), devoted to the formation of administrative specialist officers and generals. The school admitted its first female cadets in 1983 and underwent

5148-542: The weekend, the museum is open to the public from 10 a.m. – 12 a.m. and from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. The museum is closed to the public on Mondays and it is closed from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays. The museum is located on Rivoli court. The permanent collection explores the lives of the Saint-Cyrien from the end of the ancient regime to today. The collection shows the evolution of the uniform, personal objects, artwork, authentic documents, arms, clothing and family relics. Since 1829, every class ( promotion ) of Saint-Cyr chooses

5226-653: Was a communist -led national independence coalition formed at Pác Bó by Hồ Chí Minh on 19 May 1941. Also known as the Việt Minh Front ( Mặt trận Việt Minh ), it was created by the Indochinese Communist Party (ICP) as a national united front to achieve the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam . The Việt Nam Độc lập Vận động Đồng minh Hội was previously formed by Hồ Học Lãm in Nanjing , China, at some point between August 1935 and early 1936, when Vietnamese nationalist parties formed an anti-imperialist united front . This organization soon lapsed into inactivity, only to be taken over by Hồ Chí Minh and

5304-400: Was a political and military organization of Laotian communists, led by Phetsarath , Souphanouvong , Kaysone Phomvihane , Phoumi Vongvichit . Lao Issara received training and support from Việt Minh . Under French intervention, Lao Issara was split into non-communists and communists. Laotian non-communists under leadership of Pretsarath later established the Kingdom of Laos which was part of

5382-462: Was again adopted in 1949. The shako plumes are nicknamed Casoars ( cassowaries ), because they were first adopted in 1855 at the time of this colorful bird's first appearance in the Paris Zoo . While the plumes were not at first welcomed by the cadets, they have become a symbol of Saint-Cyr. The Saint-Cyr cadets of the class of 1913–14, graduating ahead of time with the outbreak of World War I, reportedly vowed to lead their platoons in battle wearing

5460-406: Was backed by the Vanguard Youth (Thanh Nien Tien Phong) in Cochinchina, which expanded to 200,000 by early summer. In the northern provinces of Việt Bắc , their armed forces seized control, after which they distributed lands to the poor, abolished the corvée, established quốc ngữ classes, local village militias, and declared universal suffrage and democratic freedoms. Due to their opposition to

5538-437: Was called Quan the rank Lieutenant soon replaced it, Quan Mot became Sous-Lieutenant , Quan Hai became Lieutenant and so forth. After the founding of the Republic of Vietnam in 1955, the VNA was renamed the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. Its military ranks and hierarchy were reformed. Organized as a modern army the Ground Force included artillery, infantry, signal communications and armored cavalry units. In 1953,

5616-771: Was eventually dismissed, leaving South Vietnam in November 1954, following French general Raoul Salan 's departure and return to France in October. The French-American secret war and influence struggle in Vietnam engaging the SDECE against the CIA continued until 1956 when the CEFEO Expeditionary Corps was dissolved and returned to France. On December 13, 1954, the 1954–55 French High Commissioner in Indochina (CEFEO Expeditionary Corps Commander), General Paul Ély, and

5694-733: Was modelled after the French Troupes de marine . Their particular navy blue uniform with white gaiters is still used by the French Fusiliers Marins . Special forces consisted of Vietnamese commandos trained by French officers in local schools. They used a whole different personnel, uniform, equipment, training and warfare compared with the regular airborne or infantry troops. The GCMA airborne commandos ( Groupe Commando Mixte Aéroporté , "Airborne Mixed Commando Group") were Vietnamese ethnic minorities or Laotian montagnard partisans led by paratrooper officers of

5772-778: Was moved in 1806 to the buildings of the former Maison Royale de Saint-Louis , in Saint-Cyr-l'École , west of Paris. During the Second World War, the cadets moved several times due to the German invasion. They eventually settled in 1945 in the Coëtquidan military camp in Morbihan . The École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr was created by order of Napoleon Bonaparte on 1 May 1802 (the Law of 11 Floréal an X according to

5850-491: Was officially created on 8 December 1950, its predecessor was the armed forces of the pro-French Provisional Central Government of Vietnam (founded on 1 January 1949). It initially had roughly 25 000 troops, including about 10 000 irregulars. 1000 French officers were given the task of training and supervising the new army. The State of Vietnam was proclaimed on July 2 of the same year, with former Vietnamese emperor Bảo Đại as Chief of State. The VNA's ranks gradually grew as

5928-606: Was the main leadership organization within Viet Minh. Ho Chi Minh was the highest leader. Nguyễn Lương Bằng was appointed as the Direct of the General Department (from 1941 to 1951). Hoàng Văn Thụ was appointed as the Secretary of the General Department (from 1941 to 1943 when he was captured by colonial French), and then Hoàng Quốc Việt  [ de ; vi ] took over the position (from 1943 to 1951). Nguyen Luong Bang, Hoang Van Thu and Hoang Quoc Viet were members of

6006-433: Was to collect intelligence, perform hit-and-run ambushes and bring confusion in Việt Minh controlled areas (northern Vietnam) wearing enemy uniforms and using unconventional warfare such as guerrilla techniques. These were based on both, GCMA director and famous counter-insurgency theorician Roger Trinquier 's experience as French Jedburgh in World War II, and on Việt Minh POWs collaboration. In 1949, after becoming

6084-697: Was under the command of Võ Nguyên Giáp . Other founders were Lê Duẩn and Phạm Văn Đồng . The Việt Nam Độc lập Đồng minh is not to be confused with the Việt Nam Cách mệnh Đồng minh Hội (League for the Vietnamese Revolution, abbreviated as Việt Cách ) which was founded by Nguyễn Hải Thần . Việt Cách later joined the Vietnamese National Coalition in 1946. Today, the Vietnam Fatherland Front –

#341658