Tet Offensive
Surprise 1968 offensive that shifted U.S. public opinion on Vietnam.
via Wikipedia: Vietnam War · see source
The Tet Offensive was a major escalation and one of the largest military campaigns of the Vietnam War, launched as a surprise attack by the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and the Viet Cong (VC) against South Vietnamese, U.S., and allied forces. Although a military defeat for North Vietnam, the offensive shocked the American public and international community, leading to a decline in U.S. public support for the war and prompting the Johnson administration to seek negotiations.
- field
- Military campaign
- nationality
- North Vietnam (PAVN/VC) vs. South Vietnam (ARVN), United States, and allies
- known_for
- Surprise attack during Tet holiday; largest military operation of the war to tha
- date
- 30–31 January 1968 (initial attacks); extended to 21 weeks of intense combat
- location
- Throughout South Vietnam, including Saigon, Huế, and Khe Sanh
Lore & Background
In 1968, the communists under Lê Duẩn launched the Tet Offensive, which was a tactical defeat but contributed to growing American opposition to the war. Hanoi believed the attacks would trigger a popular uprising and collapse of the South Vietnamese government, but no such uprising or ARVN defections occurred. During the Battle of Huế, intense fighting lasted a month, resulting in the city's destruction and the Massacre at Huế, where PAVN/VC forces executed thousands.
Reader's Guide
The Tet Offensive was a military defeat for North Vietnam, yet it had far-reaching consequences on American and international views of the war. The U.S. public, previously led to believe North Vietnam was being defeated, was shocked by the scale and surprise of the attacks. American public support for the war declined due to casualties and increased draft calls, leading the Johnson administration to seek negotiations. The offensive also influenced the 1968 U.S. presidential election, as Republican candidate Richard Nixon discouraged South Vietnamese president Nguyễn Văn Thiệu from cooperating in peace talks. The name 'Tet Offensive' usually refers to the January–February attacks but can extend to cover 21 weeks of combat, including the 'Mini-Tet' in May and the Phase III offensive in August.
Did You Know?
- The Tet Offensive was launched by the communists under Lê Duẩn in 1968.
- The offensive was a tactical defeat for North Vietnam but contributed to growing American opposition to the war.
- During the Battle of Huế, PAVN/VC forces executed thousands of civilians in what became known as the Massacre at Huế.
- The offensive included attacks on 36 of 44 provincial capitals, 5 of 6 autonomous cities, and the capital Saigon.
- No popular uprising or ARVN defections occurred as Hanoi had expected.
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