France's Brutal War to keep South East Asia - First Indochina War Documentary

For seven years beginning in 1946, the French Union fought a desperate war to keep control of its colonies in South East Asia, in the face of a determined and ruthless Communist adversary. This is the story of a brutal colonial conflict in Vietnam that became a crisis of global importance, with each side obtaining powerful allies as the causes of anti-communism and anti-colonialism collided in dramatic fashion.

0:00 - Intro
0:34 - The Guerilla War
3:24 - The Battle for Route 4
6:00 - A Change in Leadership
9:00 - The War for Rice
11:55 - The First Northwestern Campaign
13:56 - Countdown to Dien Bien Phu

Credits:

Artwork by:

Written, Animated, Directed and Produced by:

Sources:
Max Hastings, Vietnam

Ralph B. Smith, "The Japanese Period in Indochina and the Coup of 9 March 1945", Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, Sep. 1978

Stein Tønnesson, Vietnam 1946: How the War Began

Christopher Goscha, The Road to Dien Bien Phu

Bernard Fall, Street without Joy: the French debacle in Indochina,

Martin Windrow, The French Indochina War 1946-54

Lucien Bodard, The Quicksand War: Prelude to Vietnam

[Ribs]

As a Vietnamese, I'm glad that more people are talking about this. The first Indochina war is always overshadowed by the 2nd one and it's always nice to see someone else talks about it. Cảm ơn bạn nhiều nhé!

[Korporaal]

This is THE best comprehensive recap of the French war in Indochina from '46 to '54 I have seen -or read- so far. Very, very well done!

[vfbrs]

Could you make a review of the Algerian war 54/62 please? Your work on the Indochinese war really helped me to better understand this conflict my great grandpa fought in after spending most of ww2 fighting with the FFF.

[macleandancy]

I have no idea how accurate these graphics are but they are incredibly helpful.the books I read don't do justice to this video and that is incredible. Well done on the details and movements of both sides. The results of battles is a great appreciation onto my understanding

[itsme-ywel]

great video dude, i found your channel through the "battle of Hanoi 1946" video, not many channel cover the the 1st Indochina war to great extend with quality animation like this. Keep up the good work, ya earn a subscribe from me.

[florianlipp]

I recently did some research on General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny.
Here is one detail:

His only son Bernard served under him in Vietnam.
Bernard was killed in action, obeying the order of his commander (his father!) to hold a position at Ninh Binh to the last man.
The de Lattre de Tassigny were old French nobility. Their line died with Bernard and Jean.

Imagine giving such an order. And having your only son, who followed this order dutifully, being killed.
It has a Denethor-Faramir vibe.
And like Denethor, General de Lattre's mental and physical health deteriorated fast after this event. He died a few months later. His last words on his bed death were "Where is Bernard?"

[SidlingNine]

Just found your channel recently but I’m disappointed I didn’t find it earlier! Great content!👍

[markgarrett]

Bravo for your videos very detailed map of the conflict and the deficiency in bias that's been missing from the other YouTubers covering this conflict.👏

[autr]

Thank you for uploading again! Perfect timing for me

[bradleywoods]

I'd love a series on other seiges of WW2, the videos in the Budapest series were some of the best you've made and were fantastic to watch. You could do Stalingrad, Leningrad or Berlin there's so many options.

[LawIV]

"Im like, having a Bien Bien bad feeling about digging in underneath all these mountains, Scooby " - some French soldier probably

[tupperlake]

My brother fought in the Pacific and Korea. He said that during WW2 Asian colonials were told that if they fought Japanese occupation, they would be given self government when the war ended. But as soon as WW2 ended, western colonial powers assumed their previous role in the countries.

[eamonnprunty]

Brilliant video as always sir. I just want to say I appreciate the subtitles as well!

[richardmcgowan]

France forgot that after WW2 nothing would be the same again. Even though it wanted everything to be like it was before WW2. But in time it did learn.

[atakorkut]

I’m so glad that you are doing the Vietnam conflict

[hisdadjames]

Loving it, Josh, all the more so since you exposed the ‘man behind the channel’ in the recent Q&A.

[josif]

German equipment and german involvement in the french foriegn legion are one of the most interesting unspoken parts of this war

[tylernguyen]

Thank you for making this! I was wondering if you had plans addressing this war in the southern front, in the vicinity of saigon?

[Gusararr]

Do you plan to cover the whole Vietnam war?

[nhienleminhhue]

actually, the situation General Giáp had to face was the constant fear of General De Tassigny's concentration of soldiers that could counter-attack and drive back Việt Minh forces out of the newly liberated area in the north of the country that bordered China. That's why he attacked the French on many fronts such as in Upper Laos and Northwest region, Central highland, and the Central Provinces to Spread out the French Grouping.