Deadliest Year in Vietnam: The Tet Offensive | Animated History

Sources:
Arnold, James R. Tet Offensive 1968: Turning Point in Vietnam (London: Osprey Publishing, 1990).

Pribbenow, Merle L., Duiker., William J. Victory in Vietnam: The Official History of the People's Army of Vietnam, 1954-1975 (University Press of Kansas. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2002).

Sarin, Oleg Leonidovich, Dvoret︠s︡kiĭ, Lev Semenovich. Alien Wars: The Soviet Union’s Aggressions Against the World, 1919-1989 (University of Michigan: Presidio, 1996).

Schlight, John. The War in South Vietnam: The Years of the Offensive 1965-1968 (Air Force History and Museums Program, 1999).

Shulimson, Jack. U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Defining Year, 1968 (History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1997).

Willbanks, James H. The Tet Offensive: A Concise History (New York: Columbia University Press, 2007).

Wirtz, James J. The Tet Offensive: Intelligence Failure In War (London: Cornell University Press, 1991).

Zhai, Qiang. China and the Vietnam Wars, 1950-1975 (United States: University of North Carolina Press, 2005).

Music:
Puzzle Of Complexity - Jo Wandrini
Calm Before the Storm - Howard Harper-Barnes
Vantage Point - Hampus Naeselius
Storm Calling - Ethan Sloan
Cataclysm - Dream Cave
Treason - Jon Bjork
Monarch of Fate - Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen
Hunger, Thirst - Johannes Bornlof

Armchair Team Credits:

[nate]

When I was in Vietnam a year ago I met a man who did not fight in the Tet offensive because at the time he was sent to Bulgaria to get his agricultural degree. However, the NVA asking for a son from each family to fight ended up sending his brother in his place since they couldn’t send, the oldest. The brother died during the offensive, and his body wasn’t recovered. For the next 20 years that man spent every off-season from his university job traveling to Saigon via motorbike in order to try and find his brothers bones to bring them home. With luck by his side he ended up meeting some women there, who knew his brother during the war. They ended up finding his brother’s bones returning them to Hanoi where they were buried properly.

[nicholasmontgomery]

My grandfather was in Country during Tet and was fighting in Hue. He volunteered in 1963, went over in 1965 and came home in 1968. He often talked about his time before Tet and how boring it was and his volunteering to go on patrol to escape boredom. When Tet comes up, he gets quiet. He only ever told me two things about his time in Hue, the buildings and seeing Walter Kronkite reporting the news across the street while stacked behind a wall.
The only other thing he talked about after Hue was the plane ride home.
I remember when we were watching full metal jacket, he talked all about his time in basic, how a drill instructor cracked his ribs with a rifle butt, testing paper sleeping bags and parade formations. When the Hue segment came up, I could tell that he was no longer in a comfortable living room in modern day Missouri, he was back there.

[belluh-huey]

Tet Offensive was a tactical failure but a strategic victory that sent shockwaves to the world for Vietnam. Prime examples of, not all failures are bad.

[Ozark_Kaiser]

I've been watching your videos since 2019, and all i have to say is that i am saddened that your channel is, like many other channels, is slowly loosing its popularity on youtube. i appreciate the work you put into these videos. keep it up for as long as you can.

[jopflah]

If you stand close to Westmoreland's grave you can hear him saying “ The main attack is coming at Ke Sahn.” Over and over and over…..

[adolfofranquez]

WORDS CANNOT EXPLAIN HOW GREAT THIS CHANNEL IS

[Inkerman_Studios]

My grandfather was in Saigon for the Tet offensive. He was billeted in the Five Oceans hotel in the city and commuted to Bien Hoa airbase to advise ARVN logistical troops there. I've gotten the pleasure to spend a lot of time with him and to hear his stories of his time there, and he always mentioned a pilot he knew who was trying to get to an airfield and to his plane. He told me his jeep took a wrong turn somewhere and was never seen again. He mentioned also that the VC could be anyone. Was he the guy on a bike next to you at a stop light? Your driver? You could never tell.
I've been watching your videos for a while, and the increase in quality is incredible. I especially love the perspective videos.

[codyhuff]

My uncle fought in Vietnam over the course of the war and this offensive. He would talk about it time to time. He served as a radio operator with special forces groups and his most vivid memory is from Saigon when he was there. He was calling in request from a helicopter during the whole battle.

[dillonc]

If we got to end each chapter of my history class with one of these videos, I think there would be a lot more people appreciating history rather than looking past it.

[Bobafett-lcvx]

It is criminal how most people forget about the actions of south Vietnam’s armed forces (ARVN) during the Vietnam war while exclusively thinking it was a North Vietnam vs USA war. You guys gotta do a full fledged video about ARVN/the Vietnam war from the south Vietnamese perspective

[sFan]

Thank you for giving us so many historical videos.

My granddad was actually in-country during the tet offensive, and though he doesn't talk about the war much anymore, he inspired me to start researching the vietnam war. Thanks for covering this!

[theblissfulinterzone]

Amazing video. My maternal grandfather served with the Army in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive from January 1968 to January 1969.

[jameswright]

I've just come back from a four-month stint in Vietnam.
There was a famous cafe in D3 in downtown HCMC (Saigon) that helped to store arms and munitions in preparation for the Tet Offensive.
Was a very interesting place that I otherwise would have walked past unaware of its significance.

[cyberdragon]

Been on a big vietnam and indo china binge as of late, and this only sassiates my palate.
Thanks mate.

[adrianng]

13:42 Rising Storm 2 players can remember the desperation of holding onto the Embassy building in the Saigon Map

[Warmaster_]

I have been on this channel for about 4 years or so. I have to say that quality, animation and education this channel proudces are still amazing. Awsome video, Keep up the great work team.

[jimmyho]

My Dad's American Grandfather was in the U.S Army in the Vietnam War and during most of the conflict with two uncles. Grandfather survived the war but my two uncles didn't made it. Feels emotional about it.

[is]

It should be noted that the Viet Cong ceased to be a real fighting force after the offensive because of how many of them died. The Viet Cong would never completely recover, it became completely depended on North Vietnam and it never consisted of majority South Vietnamese again.

[Harrycoook]

I've been waiting for another Vietnam video since Ia Drang! These videos are so good.

[DiamondDoggo.]

Thank you for sharing these wonderful videos!!! Very informative, and I love the animations!