North Vietnamese Strategy During the Tet Offensive and Psychological Victory A David Hommer Production
Feb 22, 2016
North Vietnamese Strategy During the Tet Offensive and Psychological Victory A David Hommer Production
Key Elements of Thesis
Logistical PlanningPre-Assault Reconnaissance
Diversionary AttacksUse Of Mass Media
What Was The Tet Offensive?General GiapTet Lunar HolidayCease-Fire tradition
Tet Offensive Combatants North Vietnamese troops: 80,000 Viet Cong southern insurgents total
participation: Unknown American military personnel: 200,000
Beginning of The Tet Offensive Diversionary attack Viet Cong disguise
Viet Cong sapper attack on the U.S. Embassy at Saigon
Great Seal at Embassy
Premature Assault
Logistical Planning Planning began months prior Ho Chi Minh Trail North Vietnamese Minister’s Offer US bombing
Pre-Assault Reconnaissance Orders of General Giap Reconnaissance units Conducted reconnaissance of routes to
objectives Analysis of enemy positions and
strength
Diversionary Attacks (Khe Sanh) Major battle of the Vietnam War Westmoreland, final battle in war 20,000 North Vietnamese, 6,000 US
Marines Main store of ammunition destroyed
Role of American Mass Media Mass media=Unhappy American public Riots in America, demonstrations Made it clear Johnson administration
was lying Mass media sensationalized the fighting U.S. Secretary Dean Rusk was not
pleased
Map of Attack
Effects of the Tet Offensive Effectively ended
American escalation in Vietnam
Demonstrated the capability of the North Vietnamese
Role of mass media Americans began
looking for an “exit strategy”
Conclusion Tet Offensive: military defeat,
psychological victory North Vietnamese strategy Masterminded by General Vo Nguyen
Giap