Tet (1968), Part 5

Question 1: Describe the logistics of the Tet Offensive.

Answer 1: Being an offensive military campaign spanning all of South Vietnam, the logistical task of assembling weapons and materiel for the offensive was substantial. Beginning in mid-1967 and using the Ho Chi Minh Trail, which American forces were consistently unable to penetrate or disable, 81,000 tons of supplies and 200,000 soldiers had been funneled into South Vietnam by January 1968 in preparation for the offensive. Included in the logistics, in addition to these supplies for the NVA regular soldiers, were new AK-47 assault rifles and B-40 rocket-propelled grenade launchers for the Vietcong. These new weapons gave the Vietcong greater firepower than the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam), South Vietnam’s main military force.

There are lots of good resources about Tet 1968 that you can find available.

Question 2: Describe the communists’ political maneuvering in preparation for the Tet Offensive.

Answer 2: In addition to their extensive military and logistical preparation for the Tet Offensive, the communists also maneuvered politically to improve their chances of success. In September, the Vietcong launched a radio campaign in South Vietnam announcing their commitment to free speech, freedom of assembly, and free elections. Also in September, the Vietcong contacted U.S. officials in Saigon, simultaneously giving Washington hope that they were willing to negotiate and South Vietnam concern that the United States would support a coalition government. South Vietnam’s fears were exacerbated by communist agents opening channels of communications with prominent political opponents to the country’s current government.Perhaps most importantly, however, North Vietnam’s foreign minister announced on December 30, 1967, one month before the Tet Offensive began, that North Vietnam would be more susceptible to talks if the United States ceased its bombing of the North. Politically, the communists suggested that peace might be at hand—when they were well aware that quite the opposite was the truth.

Question 3: Discuss the communists’ rationale for the Tet Offensive.

Answer 3: Chief among communist North Vietnam’s support of the Tet Offensive was its conviction that if the action were successful, taking all of South Vietnam would be quick and easy afterward. Prior to Tet, the opposing militaries had been deadlocked throughout South Vietnam, and the communists believed that the unwanted presence of the U.S. military in the country, combined with the unpopularity of the Saigon government, would make the country ripe for the taking if the Americans could be repelled by a major offensive. They had several beliefs that contributed to this conclusion:They believed that the intervention of U.S. forces in the country indicated that the South Vietnamese military was no longer effective.Because the 1967 presidential elections had had a very low voter turnout, they believed that even the winning ticket of Nguyen Van Thieu and Nguyen Cao Ky was not popular. Antiwar demonstrations in Saigon were frequent and well documented, as was criticism of the Saigon government in the press. Based on these conclusions, the Tet Offensive was approved.

Previous: Tet (1968), Part 4 - Next: Text Structure, Part 1

Flashcard Secrets provides test preparation products for a variety of examinations - all trademarks are property of their respective trademark owners.

3827 Phelan #179

Beaumont, TX 77707