The term "Tet offensive" refers to the
January-February 1968 NLF offensive
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Part I
The Military
Battle
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

The Vietnam War was a
military struggle fought
in Vietnam from c. 1949
to 1975.
It involved the North
Vietnamese and the
National Liberation
Front (NLF) in conflict
,United States forces,
other allies and the
South Vietnamese army.
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
Vietnam was divided
in half in 1954:



North Communist
South Democracy
In 1965 the US and
other allies sent in
troops to prevent the
South Vietnamese
government from
collapsing and turning
all of Vietnam
Communist.
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


Between 1965 and 1967,
the US increased its
military presence
dramatically.
This policy led to
increased anti-war
demonstrations in
America.
The US government
claimed progress was
being made.
500000
450000
400000
350000
300000
250000
200000
150000
100000
50000
0
US
Troops
1965
1967
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

There was tension in
Vietnam during the
lead up to Tet.
At Right a Monk in
South Vietnam lights
himself on fire to
protest South
Vietnamese
government.
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

In November 1967 General
Westmoreland spearheaded
a public relations drive for
the Johnson administration
to bolster flagging public
support.
In a speech before the
National Press Club he said
that a point in the war had
been reached, "where the end
comes into view."
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

January 21, 1968 20,000 NVA troops
under the command of
Gen. Giap attack the
American air base at
Khe Sanh.
A 77 day siege begins
as 6000 U.S. Marines
and ARVN troops in
the isolated outpost are
encircled.
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



US focus was on the siege of
Khe Shahn.
General Giap knew
Americans were protesting
war at home.
Media attention was
becoming key factor.
Giap also wanted to start a
people’s uprising in the
South against the US.
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


Giap was aware of the growing US peace movement
and of the deep divisions the war was causing in
American society.
What the General needed was a body-blow that would
break Washington's will to carry on.
Wanted a quick and decisive victory that would be well
in time for the 1968 US Presidential campaign.
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


Tet is the most important
and popular holiday and
festival in Vietnam.
It is the Vietnamese New
Year which is based on
the Lunar calendar.
Usually a 3 day holiday;
end of January.
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

Truce was declared so both sides of conflict could
celebrate Tet with their families.
NVA and Viet Cong began sneaking into cities
with smuggled weapons.


Used flower carts, rigged coffins and trucks supposedly
filled with rice and vegetables.
They were disguised as peasants, refugees and
workers.
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

January 31, 1968 - 84,000
Viet Cong guerrillas aided
by NVA troops launch the
Tet Offensive attacking a
hundred cities and towns
throughout South
Vietnam.
They used the Tet truce
agreement to aid the
element of surprise.
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
January 31- March 7

35 NVA and Viet
Cong battalions are
defeated by 50
battalions of
American and Allied
troops that had been
positioned to protect
the city
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


January 31, 1968
19 VC commandos blew their way
through the outer walls of the Embassy
and overran the five MP's on duty.
2 MP's were killed as the VC tried to
blast their way through the main
Embassy doors with anti-tank rockets.
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
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The VC failed and found
themselves pinned-down
by the Marine guards
who kept the VC in an
intense firefight.
By mid-morning, the
battle had turned.
All 19 VC were killed,
their bodies scattered
around the Embassy
courtyard.
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


January 31- March 2
12,000 NVA and Viet Cong troops storm the
lightly defended historical city.
South Vietnamese troops and three U.S. Marine
battalions counter-attack and engage in the
heaviest fighting of the entire Tet Offensive.
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
Over 3000 "enemies of the people" including South
Vietnamese government officials, captured South
Vietnamese officers, and Catholic priests were executed
by the Viet Cong and NVA in Hue.
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45000
40000
35000
30000
25000
Killed
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
US
S. Vietnam
NVA, VC
Civilians
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Giap’s plan had called for
a quick victory. He was
overextended, under
supplied and without
reinforcements. The quick
win did not happen.
ARVN forces stood their
ground.
Us Air power was crucial
No uprising resulted
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

Much like the Vietnam war
itself, deciding whether Tet
was a success or a failure
is very confusing!
Either way, the Tet
Offensive today is seen as
the turning point of the
war.
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Part II
The
Propaganda
Battle
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

The Tet Offensive was
both a big public
relations and
psychological victory
for the communists.
There were several
reasons Giap was able
to claim success after
the offensive.
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


The optimistic assessments
made prior to the Tet offensive
by the administration and the
Pentagon came under heavy
criticism
The "credibility gap" that had
opened in 1967 widened into a
chasm.
Many Americans did not
believe LBJ or Gen.
Westmoreland’s assessment of
the war.
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

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Parts of the Tet Offensive
were captured on film.
Many Americans saw first
hand the assault on the
US embassy in Saigon.
Brought the war home for
many.
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

"For it seems now more
certain than ever,"
Cronkite said, "that the
bloody experience of
Vietnam is to end in a
stalemate."
After watching
Cronkite's broadcast,
LBJ was quoted as
saying: "That's it. If I've
lost Cronkite, I've lost
middle America."
Respected CBS Anchorman turns
against the War in Vietnam
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

Starting with the Tet
Offensive in January;
1968 became the
bloodiest and costliest
year for US troops in
Vietnam.
Losses in 1968 made
the call to bring the
troops home louder.
16000
14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
Killed in
Action
4000
2000
0
1966 1968 1970
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ALLIED STRENGTH:
C. 1,000,000


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
Total Allied military
casualties:
Approximately 45,820
casualties:
9,078 killed
35,212 wounded
1,530 missing
VC & NVA STRENGTH:
400,000-500,000




Total VC & NVA
military casualties:
Approximately 111,179
casualties:
44,842 killed
61,267 wounded
5,070 missing
Civilian: 14,000 killed, 24,000 wounded
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

The Tet Offensive also
helped unite those at
home in their dissenting
opinions of the war.
The Anti-War
movement really began
to strengthen, especially
during the election year
of 1968.
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

The Tet Offensive importance lies in
the fact that it broke the will of the
American people to continue the fight
and consequently, the American
Government .
Tet turned many people, especially the
US media, against the Vietnam War.
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