The Viet Cong Rebellion

His regime horrified many South Vietnamese

He was considered an ‘American Puppet’ A South Vietnamese Communist movement

emerged and they were the Viet Cong

President Ngo Dinh Diem

President Diem was at first, very successful Then people began to realize what he was

like The communist party resorted to violence,

assassinating Diem’s officials Armed action was resisted by Communist

party authorities until 1959, when they started taking over villages.

Communist in the South Vietnam

Founded on the 20th December 1960 It was a union of about 20 south

Vietnamese groups opposed to the Diem Regime.

Formed because of the way the President treated the people (didn’t care)

Ho Chi Minh was the “spiritual father” and the Viet Cong looked up to him for guidance.

The Birth of the Viet Cong

NLF (National Liberation Front for South Vietnam)

NLF was also just for non-communists who were against Diem’s regime

Nguyen Huu Tho was the chairman NLF had to parties- Political Groups (radical

socialists, Democratic party of the South Vietnam and People’s Revolutionary Party) and Special interest groups (farmers, women, workers, youth, students, and cultural groups)

The NLF

Used propaganda and persuasion NLF wanted to unite Vietnam (north and

south) Emphasized that the US was imperialist-

attracted the people in the south of Vietnam to join the Viet Cong.

The support for the Viet Cong

Viet Cong effectively used guerilla warfare against the US

Instead of traditional fighting they would do small attacks, ambushes and bombings

Meaning lack of power made less effective as they weren’t fighting head-on

Guerilla warfare originated in Spain and Portugal, used by the rebels

Guerilla Warfare

Two types of Units- Military unit (soldiers), Paramilitary unit (villagers- involved in sabotage quarters or assassination squads)

Most of the Vietnam recruits were villagers, communist, or teenagers.

Viet Cong gain strength