Viet congnlf national liberation front, people from south vietnam who dislike ziem and us and want both of them gone. The pentagon papers, the sacred willow four generations in the life of vietnamese family, and a history book that began in the 5th century. The viet cong, or national liberation front nlf, was a political organization and army in south vietnam and cambodia that fought the united states. The term pavn peoples army of vietnam, identifies regular troops of the north. Considered a nationalist by many, others viewed him as an agent of the soviet union and china. There was resistance to the french colonialists in indochina prewwii, resistance to the japanese occupation during wwii, and resistance to the french colonialists post wwii. Viet cong vc national liberaiton front nlf militaria. Vietnam war project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. The seeds of the nlf were several thousand communists who defied the terms of the geneva accord 1954 and remained underground in south vietnam. Overthrow the camouflaged colonial regime of the american imperialists and the dictatorial power of ngo dinh diem, servant of the americans, and institute a government of national democratic union. The vietcong the vietnamese communists, or vietcong, were the military branch of the national liberation front nlf, and were commanded by the central office for south vietnam, which was located. Viet cong nlf national liberation front people from south. Hanoi gave the regroupees military training and sent them back to the south along the ho chi minh trail in the early 1960s. Vietnam war academic dictionaries and encyclopedias.
In years 19631976, north vietnam issued 69 stamps for use by the communist forces of the national liberation front nlf for south vietnam, known as viet cong. The peoples liberation armed forces plaf, more popularly known as the viet cong vc, was the military arm of the national liberation front nlf. Recorded in a barnturnedstudio in rural ontario, the seven songs that make up viet cong were born largely on the road, when flegel and bandmates mike wallace, scott munro and daniel christiansen embarked on a 50date tour that stretched virtually every limit imaginable. Rice drops to villages often ended up supplying the nlf. Very rare 1964 rare original viet cong medal very rare a warrior to be emulated nva vc nlf issue medal for combat operations against the anticommunist enemy. Nlf and pavn strategy, organization and structure wikipedia. I refer to the book frequently in my discussions of various aspects of the second indochina war. Why is the vietnamese war considered a guerrilla conflict. Viet cong vc national liberaiton front nlf militaria, gear, memorabilia, collectibles. The organization and techniques of the national liberation front of south vietnam m. The viet cong won its first military victory against south vietnamese forces at. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. It had both guerrilla and regular army units, as well as a network of cadres who organized peasants in the territory it controlled. The film focuses on real people mcintyre knew in the marines, as well as experiences of dr.
The term vietcong is the derogatory name for the national liberation front. What is the difference between viet minh and viet cong. On this day in 1968, as part of the tet offensive, a squad of viet cong guerillas attacks the u. In 1962 the national liberation front or nlf known to most americans and south vietnamese as the viet cong published a program outlining their aims and objectives. It has some rare national liberation front bills that were captured from a unfortunate viet cong in 1966. Read the essential details about the national liberation front. It is the most authoritative work on the structure and activity of the viet cong. Douglas pike, our most careful student of the viet cong schlesinger, the bitter heritage, 36, is a case in point. Marvin wayne, renowned and decorated physician at the 24th evac in its final year. Foreign relations, 19641968, volume v, vietnam 1967 released by the office of the historian documents 406421. Press, 1966, received broad praise when it was issued. We have broken this section into four main sites listed below.
The national liberation front, or nlf more known by the name viet cong in english language sources, a south vietnamese communist common front aided by the north, fought a guerrilla war against anticommunist forces in the region. Red and blue with yellow star indictates that flag was carried owned by unit of the pavn nlf national liberation front that originated north of the dmz north vietnam, viet cong unit. Jul 28, 2004 as we approach your question, lets consider the term viet cong vc, a name used by american and allied soldiers in vietnam to refer to the armed forces of the national front for the liberation of south vietnam or national liberation front nlf or vietnamese communist. The village had been the site of an arvn outpost until the viet cong overran it in 1964, executed the village chief, blocked the roads and organized the population into youth, women and farmers associations and indoctrinated them on national liberation front nlf goals and laws. Hanois three decisions and the escalation of the vietnam war jstor. Many histories lump both the nlf and the armed formations under the term viet cong or vc in common usage. This is pleiku, 250 miles north of saigon, the air base that was ripped by vietnamese communist guerillas. Nlf and pavn battle tactics comprised a flexible mix of guerrilla and conventional warfare battle tactics used by the main force of the peoples liberation armed forces known as the national liberation front or viet cong in the west and the nva peoples armyvietnam to defeat their u. As administration officials attempted to rescue hertz by push. North vietnam established the national liberation front in 1960 to foment insurgency in the south.
The name is said to have first been used by south vietnamese pres. The saigon regime dubbed the nlf the viet cong, a pejorative contraction of viet nam cong san. For many members of the nlf, however, the fight was about defending their home from what they saw as foreign invaders, not about. With south having flag with only red to background. This article focuses on the land warfare strategy and organization used by the main force of the peoples liberation armed forces better known as the viet cong or vc in the west and the nva north vietnamese armypeoples army vietnam to defeat their american and south vietnamese gvnarvn opponents during the second indochina war better known as the vietnam war. In the first two years at least the line had been clear. The tet offensive was a coordinated series of north vietnamese attacks on more than 100 cities and outposts in south vietnam. Best known for starting the second wave of feminism through the writing of her book the feminine mystique. The nlf, or national liberation front, otherwise known as the viet cong, were a guerrilla force of communist supporters who waged an underground war against the capitalist of south vietnam and their us allies. Viet cong and pavn strategy, organization and structure. The war in viet nam for liberation began well before the us was involved.
Based on some 800 documents captured in battle and on interviews with 100 ex viet cong, much of the primary source material is reproduced, and all of it is interpreted in the light of the authors broad knowledge of vietnam and its people. About this sound listen, also known as the national liberation front of south vietnam, was a. The nlf also included fully armed formations regional and local guerrillas, and the peoples liberation armed forces plaf. The nlf asserted that it was a national front of all elements opposed to the existing government, whether communist or not. The main military organizations involved in the war were, on one side, the army of the republic of vietnam arvn and the u. Since, scott catalogue doesnt list them, kimmo kuikka encouraged me to create our catalogue for those members who interested in this area or want to identify their stamps. Chapter 4, the overthrow of ngo dinh diem, maynovember, 1963, pp.
I purchased this book in a bookstore in ho chi minh city aka saigon, vietnam during a recent trip. This book documents the intricate organization and purpose of the viet cong. In december, 1960, the national front for the liberation of south vietnam nlf was formed. The viet cong, or national liberation front nlf, was a leftist, political and military insurgent movement which was created in 1960 in south vietnam and cambodia to fight against south vietnamese and american forces during the vietnam war 19591975. Quyet chien resolved to resist quyet thang resolved to win was also name of nlf, long servcie medal giac my xam luoc vanquish american agressors extra rare piece nva stamp to bottom measures 2.
So my questions are, how common were female member of the vietcong, and how common were female grunts who would go out on attacks or ambushes, not. Ospreys study of the viet cong fighters of the vietnam war 19551975. Close quarters hastened their exhaustion but also honed them as a group. Army helicopters pour machine gun fire into a tree line to cover the advance of south vietnamese ground troops in an attack on a viet cong camp 18 miles north of tay ninh, near the cambodian border, in march of 1965. Rare vc neck scarf viet cong vietnam war national liberation front, rare. Buy viet cong north vietnam war flag embroidered patch vietnamese ironon emblem. Author truong nhu tang 1923 was active in the political work of the nlf and related organizations. The flag of the vietcong or national liberation front is a variation on the traditional vietnamese flag, with a.
The nlf was nominally independent of the north vietnamese armed forces and not all nlf members were communists. The national liberation front was a political organization with its own army peoples liberation armed forces of south vietnam plaf in south vietnam and cambodia, that fought the united states and south vietnamese governments, eventually emerging on the. The first part is quite interesting and informative, well written. Main goal was to take control of the rural areas and villages in south vietnam.
Prior to reading a vietcong memoir, i read several books on vietnam. Each man wears a belt on which he carries two or three hand grenades, his. This war followed the first indochina war and was fought between north vietnamsupported by. The nlf, or the vietcong, as the americans were to call them, was made up of over a dozen different political and religious groups. Established at the end of 1960, the vc was created by the north vietnamese communists to escalate the armed struggle in south vietnam. Translated literally, it means something like vietnamese commie. Telegram from the deputy ambassador to vietnam locke to the presidents special assistant rostow, secretary of state rusk, secretary of defense mcnamara, and director of central intelligence helms1.
As the viet cong and north vietnamese in 1975 launched their heavy assaults in. In an earlier book2 i had mentioned the execution of a certain chan, who headed. Causes most american wars have obvious starting points or precipitating causes. Viet cong national liberation front 1964 original piece normal 0 false false false enau xnone xnone command control, north.
The viet cong also known as the national liberation front, or nlf, a lightly armed south vietnamese communist common front directed by the north, largely fought a guerrilla war against anticommunist forces in the region. The special war and strategic hamlets policies allowed saigon to push back in 1962, but in 1963 the viet cong regained the military initiative. Others consider the viet cong or vc to primarily refer to the armed elements. The viet cong 19651967 part 1 and the viet cong 19651967 part 2. He has written his book with a narrative pace that rivals the very best thrillers. For a majority of the war, especially so during the active participation of united states combat troops, an austere course of guerilla warfare and counterinsurgency operations was adhered to. Doug valentine had written a novel about his fathers experiences in a prisoner of war camp during world war 2 called hotel tacloban. It was because this battle was won by the nlf years ago, and the u. Rare nlf hat lapel badge viet cong, national liberation front, vietnam war. Truong nhu tangs a vietcong memoir is an easy read if youre familiar with vietnams lengthy colonial history. Nlf belt buckle national liberation front viet cong vietnam war 31. Vietnam war 1 19601975 causesmilitary and diplomatic coursedomestic coursepostwar impactchanging interpretations vietnam war 2 196075. Why did sweden support the viet cong in the vietnam war.
Foreign relations, 19641968, volume v, vietnam 1967 state. Organization and technique of the national liberation front of south vietnam, the mit press. The nlf bills are in a clickable format so you can view them up close, you can see a picture of a downed helicopter with. Viet cong and pavn battle tactics comprised a flexible mix of guerrilla and conventional warfare battle tactics used by the main force of the peoples liberation armed forces known as the viet cong or vc in the west and the nva peoples armyvietnam to defeat their american and south vietnamese gvnarvn opponents during the second indochina war vietnam war. Political science quarterly volume 90 number 2 summer 1975 239. Many of the viet cong s core members were regroupees, southern viet minh who had resettled in the north after the geneva accord 1954. Viet cong, the guerrilla force that, with the support of the north vietnamese army. Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the wikipedia article. How common were female members of the viet cong national liberation front its fairly common to see picture of women in the vietcong, but almost all of these pics are staged propaganda pictures. The messages of secrets of the viet cong are certsainly too chilling to be ignored.
Viet cong vc was a term generally applied to the military arm of the national liberation front nlf. It reveals how they were able to stand up to the mighty u. Viet cong became in 1960 the military arm of the national liberation front nlf. I cant figure out why it seems that some of the most revealing books that really give you the true after a ridiculously laborous and long search for this grim but revealing book about the worst atrocity the vietnam war had to offer along with the my lai incident this book, the viet cong massacre at hue by alje vennema was quite a shocker. Feb 05, 2016 viet cong meet the enemy facetoface, most likely in the mekong delta or plain of reeds. American crations were purchased on the black market and frequently discovered in nva and nlf caches. Original vietnam nva vc viet cong north vietnamese army combat boots shoes. Datelined saigon, appearing under the byline of a usia foreign service officer, this is the first extensive study of the viet cong. Nlf and pavn battle tactics comprised a flexible mix of guerrilla and conventional warfare battle tactics used by the main force of the peoples liberation armed forces known as the national liberation front or viet cong in the west and the nva peoples army.
Only the viet cong had any real support and influence on a broad base in the countryside. Military mpc, vietnamese dong and some indochina bills. The book is divided into two parts, the first part traditional vietnam discusses the countrys history from cradles of civilization up to 1858 the beginning of the french occupation. Related to my book viet cong charlie and his deadly tricks. They shared common arms, procedures, tactics, organization and personnel with pavn. Tunnel rats who go into viet cong tunnel complexes 2009 canada, us, germany 21 and a wakeup. American humitarian food relief aid was often found in such caches. On february 2, 1965, the national liberation front of south vietnam kidnapped. Its military organization was known as the peoples liberation armed forces. There had been some division among former viet minh whose main goal was to hold the elections promised in the geneva accords, leading to wildcat activities separate from the other communists and antigvn activists.
The plaf was the main force the chu luc or fulltime soldiers of the nlfs military wing. The viet cong was the military arm of the national liberation front nlf, an underground communist insurgency formed in december 1960 and active in south vietnam. Civil rights, vietnam, and the ordeal of liberalism part 2. Vietnam national liberation front project gutenberg self. Viet cong vc, in full viet nam cong san, english vietnamese communists, the guerrilla force that, with the support of the north vietnamese army, fought against south vietnam late 1950s1975 and the united states early 1960s1973.
The soldiers seized the embassy and held it for six hours until an assault. Viet cong and pavn battle tactics comprised a flexible mix of guerrilla and conventional warfare battle tactics used by the main force of the peoples liberation armed forces known as the viet cong or vc in the west and the nva peoples army vietnam to defeat their american and south vietnamese gvnarvn opponents during the second indochina war vietnam war. Extra rare measures, 31 x 22 inches 79 x 56 cms excellent piece. Diem referred to the nlf as viet cong, or vietnamese communist. How the book came to be written is an interesting story in its own right.
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