Nationalism and The Important Role It Played in The 1968 Tet Offensive During The Second Indochina War

Explain the role of nationalism in the 1968 Tet Offensive during the Second Indochina War.

The competing forces of nationalism played a key role in the 1968 Tet Offensive during the Second Indochina War (1954-1975). Nationalism implies a feeling of patriotism, and a strong urge to improve the country. For North Vietnam, and areas of South Vietnam, this meant a war for independence an attempt to break the ties of foreign control. Conflicting this was America’s sense of nationalism, which contorted itself in the vehement discouragement of communism. These competing forces reached a pinnacle at the Tet Offensive, a North Vietnamese response to their struggle for independence. Although considered as technically a military failure, it was evidently a success as measured by the reactions and ramifications it caused for both the Americans and the Indochinese.

The 1968 Tet Offensive commenced on the eve of the celebration of the Tet festival, which in itself was regarded as a period free of conflict. The significance of holding this festival was not only the element of surprise that would be gained from holding it on a public holiday, but the historical significance as in 1789 Quang Trung led his forced into Hanoi during Tet to overthrow an army sent from China, with the goal of independence as well. The North Vietnamese hoped to replicate this victory. Just before midnight on January 30th Ho Chi Minh, president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (1945-1969) announced on the radio a signal for the commencement of the offensive, “…let the south and north emulate each other in fighting US aggressors! Forward! Total victory shall be ours .” The Offensive consisted of three phases that last until October of 1968. These had severe repercussions on the American home front, American soldiers, Cambodians and Laotians and obviously the South and North Vietnamese. It became a turning point in the Second Indochinese War.

The consideration of launching the Tet offensive by the North Vietnamese Army, particularly the Viet Cong, was a part of a larger struggle for independence that became a major motivation throughout the Second Indochinese War. General Giap, a key organiser in the offensive commented that the objective was, “simultaneously military, political and diplomatic ”, reflecting the encompassing nature of the offensive. They aimed to launch a major attack of North Vietnamese Forces against US troops in South Vietnam, attack as many cities as possible and then use political efforts to bring about an uprising in the South and to undermine the military and civilian confidence in the South Vietnamese Government. This was all backed up by the North Vietnamese sense of nationalism, aimed at uniting Vietnam under one communist government. As one Vietnamese refugee stated, “The Viet Cong offensive is like the tide lapping at a beach. It comes and goes. But each time, a little bit of the government’s authority is swept away. ” The attack on the American Embassy in Saigon after midnight on January 31st involved nineteen Viet Cong (VC) fighters who blew a one-metre hole in the wall of the embassy. This particular offensive signified the anti-American sentiments felt by the North Vietnamese in accordance with their nationalistic values of independence. The Viet Cong fighters were all shot but managed to impact psychologically on the confidence of the Americans, accomplishing their aim.

Another significant attack was that of coastal city of Hue, the third largest city in Vietnam. This town was not only the old Imperial Capital but was both the cultural and intellectual centre of Vietnam, which was also a major unloading point for the allied troops. The headquarters of the South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) was headquartered in Hue. The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) attacked the city with mortar shells and rockets. They slammed into the citadel walls and other defensive spots, shocking the ARVN troops stationed there. They overran the citadel, raising a North Vietnamese flag to signify their success. The flag became a symbol of North Vietnamese nationalism, a physical representation of their attempt to terminate American control over Vietnam, and to reunite the country. It took a month for the South Vietnamese flag to be reinstated on the flagpole, after the complete destruction of the city itself. The victims killed in Hue were “victims of American air power and of the ground fighting that raged in the Hamlets ” which helped establish hatred towards the Americans because of the civilian losses incurred. This attack was a success for the NVA and the VC, not militarily, but because of the inefficiencies in the American and South Vietnamese defence that it brought to public attention.

The counterattack of the American force was instigated in accordance with their sense of nationalism, which incorporated strong anti-communist sentiments. This became the cause of their involvement within the Indochinese war. The American military aimed to fight and win the war against communism following the dominant American ideology, influenced by Eisenhower’s ‘Domino Theory’. This was reflected through the American public who were originally in majority support of the war, which later evolved into a minority support during the Tet Offensive and its aftermath. Anti-war movements began to develop throughout America as the media influence became supreme, displaying photos and films of the excessive violence and destruction the war was causing in Indochina. President Johnson (1963-1969) became entrenched in arguments over the American involvement in the war, to the extent that he discontinued his run for presidency.

The South Vietnamese army was similarly shocked at the Tet Offensive, losing confidence in their ability to continue as a democratic country. One of the most significant attacks was that on Saigon. Major bases near Saigon were secured by late January 31st, as the VC his in residential areas and hiding places. A radio station was attacked, with a failed attempt to control the radio stations of Saigon. The Presidential Palace, a staple of the democratic government was also hit, and suffered extensive damage. Saigon itself was not cleared until March 7th, 1968. Nationalistic sentiments within the country were dominated by that of the Americans, preventing a proper formation of independence for the South Vietnamese government, but instead one completely reliable on the efforts and assistance of the Americans.

The effect that the Tet Offensive had on civilians in both Cambodia and Laos was extremely significant in the subsequent events of the Indochinese War. The Ho Chi Minh trail that ran through both Cambodia and Laos, carrying supplies to the Northern fighters in South Vietnam was itself heavily bombed. This caused a reaction for the people living in the areas, and further spread to the main areas of the respective countries. The devastation caused to the major cities combined with the obvious flaws in the South Vietnamese and American fronts stimulated communist aspirations and sympathy therefore influencing their sense of nationalism to incorporate communist ideology, thus having an effect throughout Indochina.

The Tet Offensive of 1968 was an extremely significant turning point of the Second Indochinese War, caused by the competing forces of communism evident between South Vietnam, North Vietnam and America. The attack had effects in all countries involved, including on the world stage as people from multiple nations viewed the destruction caused through the media. The communists came away with an “overwhelmingly psychological and hence political victory ” because of their unfaltering nationalistic goals for the reunification of Vietnam. This inspired the commencement of peace talks between America and North Vietnam, which eventually led to the conclusion of the Second Indochinese War.