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Dien Bien Phu 1954: The French Defeat that Lured America into Vietnam (Campaign) Paperback – August 17, 2021

by Martin Windrow (Author), Peter Dennis (Illustrator)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 147 ratings
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A highly illustrated study of the battle at Dien Bien Phu, the 56-day siege that eventually led to the surrender of the remaining French-led forces, this iconic battle provided the climax of the First Indochina War.

In late 1953, the seventh year of France's war against the Viet Minh insurgency in its colony of Vietnam, the C-in-C, General Navarre, was encouraged to plant an 'air-ground base' in the Thai Highlands at Dien Bien Phu, to distract General Giap's Vietnamese People's Army from both Annam and the French northern heartland in the Red River Delta, and to protect the Laotian border. Elite French paratroopers captured Dien Bien Phu, which was reinforced between December 1953 and February 1954 with infantry and artillery, a squadron of tanks and one of fighter-bombers, to a strength of 10,000 men. Giap and the VPA General Staff accepted the challenge of a major positional battle; through a total mobilization of national resources, and with Chinese logistical help, they assembled a siege army of 58,000 regular troops, equipped for the first time with 105mm artillery and 37mm AA guns. Here, author Martin Windrow describes how from their first assaults on 13 March 1954, the battle quickly developed into a dramatic 56-day 'Stalingrad in the jungle' that drew the attention of the world.

Previous page
  1. Part of series
    Campaign
  2. Print length
    96 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Osprey Publishing
  5. Publication date
    August 17, 2021
  6. Dimensions
    7.24 x 0.29 x 9.86 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1472844009
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1472844002
  9. See all details
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From the Publisher

military history;campaign;Osprey

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Full colour battlescenes

Beautifully illustrated battlescenes are included to bring the narrative of the conflict to life.

Three-dimensional ‘bird’s-eye-views'

Each three-dimensional 'bird's-eye view' is meticulously researched to recreate the actual battlefield at that point in history with accurate contour detail, scaling, landscaping and terrain features.

Maps

Detailed historical maps frame each battle or campaign, and provide the key historical context.

military history;campaign;Osprey

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Martin Windrow is an English military historian and a long-time commissioning and art editor for Osprey Publishing. He is the author of numerous books of military history, including The Last Valley, a distinguished history of the French defeat in Vietnam. He lives in the Sussex Downs country of southern England.

Peter Dennis was inspired by contemporary magazines such as Look and Learn, leading him to study Illustration at Liverpool Art College. Peter has since contributed to hundreds of books, predominantly on historical subjects, including many Osprey titles. A keen wargamer and modelmaker, he is based in Nottinghamshire, UK.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Osprey Publishing; 1st edition (August 17, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1472844009
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1472844002
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.24 x 0.29 x 9.86 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 147 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
147 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Christopher Romano
5.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed this
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2024
Verified Purchase
An excellent introduction to this famous battle for those who were not familiar with it. Numerous photographs and other illustrations are provided to support the text. Overall, I would recommend this book.
One person found this helpful
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HMS Warspite
5.0 out of 5 stars Hell in a very small place...
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2021
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In November 1953, France's Far East Expeditionary Corps seized Dien Bien Phu, a remote village in the highlands of northern Vietnam, by parachute assault. The base, which incorporated two primitive airfields surrounded by field fortifications, was then extensively reinforced. The purpose of the base, remote from French-held territory and surrounded by jungled mountains, was variously described as a distraction to Vietnamese communist forces from other French operations in Indochina, and as a prepared battlefield for the destruction of any responding Vietnamese units. In fact, thanks to the careful planning of Vietnamese Minister of Defense Vo Nguyen Giap, Dien Bien Phu became a trap.

Experienced author Martin Windrow here provides the standard Osprey Campaign series treatment of the battle, informed by his significant expertise on the subject. A terse battle narrative is nicely even-handed in its treatment of the respective combatants. The text is well supported by lots of period photographs and modern battle diagrams and illustrations.

The siege of Dien Bien Phu has been the subject of several recent major histories. The author has helpfully incorporated updates, for example on the fate of the French survivors, into a narrative for the general reader. Oddly, the author does not directly address his subtitle, which contends that the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu lured the United States into Vietnam. Recommended to the student of the many conflicts in Southeast Asia.
6 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Descriptions and Good Pictures
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2022
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I have read other books, but this one is easy to understand and visualize by comparison.
3 people found this helpful
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Nathaniel
5.0 out of 5 stars Great primer on little studied campaign
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2021
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Nice concise book with decent photos, art, and maps that help make sense of this little studied (in English) but decisive battle that effectively ended French control of Indochina. I visited Dien Bien Phu when I traveled around SE Asia 15 years ago-- it was not easy to get to by the way, I had to take a local bus 12 hours into the mountains where there were literally no other westerners, though a couple Vietnamese veterans of the battle who were there to remember their experience started to speak to me in French... I told them I was American and they wanted their photo with me... But I digress, this is an excellent, and short book for anyone who wants to understand this battle, Giap's brilliant and successful strategy, and the truly brave and daunting exploits of soldiers on both sides
7 people found this helpful
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L. A Mantilla
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read about a lost battle that compels the USA to enter into the Vietnam conflict
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2021
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Great accuracy in the account of one of the most epic battle of the first Indochina war, with accurate casualties on the french side. No exact figures on the VPA are still available, however indications suggested great numbers of casualties and morale problems like the Russians experienced in Stalingrad. This work is one of the rare instances that a relatively small book contains a lot of information an new insights on the subject.
4 people found this helpful
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?
5.0 out of 5 stars Little Known Significant Battle Presented In A Beautiful Format
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2021
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Excellent military history of the event that drew us into the Vietnam War. Caution: Not for casual readers of history. Too much small unit detail for most.
3 people found this helpful
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Troy W. Mullineaux
5.0 out of 5 stars Nice summation and update!
Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2021
Verified Purchase
I'm reading the Kindle version of his longer work on the subject and I've read some author interviews of it. Great companion and easy way to add new information/research to the previous work
One person found this helpful
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Travis
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent account of a far reaching battle
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2021
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It reinforces my previously held belief that it was a calamitous mistake for us to aid the French in trying to hold onto Vietnam.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Gerson V. Monteiro Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars Pesquisa histórica
Reviewed in Brazil on August 21, 2022
Verified Purchase
Excelente.
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Glenn Young
5.0 out of 5 stars Great summary of a pivotal battle in history.
Reviewed in Canada on September 14, 2021
Verified Purchase
Great book, very detailed and summed up the whole battle in an accurate and insightful way.
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Wklynch
5.0 out of 5 stars Dien Bien Phu1954 – Outstanding.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 3, 2021
Verified Purchase
What a welcome addition to the literature available on DBP and who better to write this than Martin Windrow. For those that have not read Martins work then a short intro – Martin is the long-term editor of the Osprey series and has produced and written some of the most informative, well balanced, accurate and engaging military history books in the past 5O years.

His seminal work on DBP The Last Valley - (2004) which I would also strongly recommend is now added to with this superb volume from the Campaign series. Following the well-established and successfull format this book takes you the heart of the battle that ragged in that valley in 1954. Martin has selected some excellent photos which not only introduce the main protagonists GIAP and the French command but set the scene of the soldiers involved. To begin with Martin sets out the macro picture, and answers in the opening pages the key question of ‘why’ did so many troops end up fighting and dying in an obscure, albeit beautiful valley and village in North Vietnam. Capturing this so concisely is measures of his outstanding talent and skill as both a writer and editor.

He also through the use of some well produced and detailed maps, chronicles the battle and brings to life the different assault phases of the battle. These are key to understating how the valley with its heights was systematically targeted and captured by the Vietnamese, to encase the French forces. Often not fully addressed in mainstream books and covered in this book, was the crucial period of the battle ‘The Lull” March 17th – March 30 – where both sides rearmed, patrolled and consolidated the positions they had either gained or lost. This was an opportunity lost by the French and again the detailed map of the road-clearing action on the 20th – 30 March brings this out and Martin has again presented this very well in this book.

The make-up of both armies and order of battle section of the books again is packed with details and a welcome addition to understanding the forces in play. It is the addition by Martin of photos highlighting the role played by French troops from the West African II/4 RAC and how in open and exposed artillery pits, they kept the guns going for 55 days. As always Martin showing his well balanced and accurate portrayal of all those on both sides who showed courage and bravery throughout the siege.

Finally, the recommend reading list supplied by Martin in final section sets out some of the wider literature available. If you have never read a book on DPB then this book is the best starting point, if you have read most of the available material and as someone who visited DPB to see the battlefield, it is final volume to have and enjoy.
2 people found this helpful
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Rupert Garcia
4.0 out of 5 stars Well-written Blow-by-Blow Account
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2021
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Martin Windrow writes very well, keeping the interest level up in what could otherwise be a book of lists. I would have appreciated a larger map, situating DBP in the larger strategic framework, as it was a little difficult to get one's bearings. Also, I found the artwork to be rather crude. Regardless of these minor niggles, I highly recommend it, and would also point readers to his excellent 'Combat' series book French Foreign Légionnaire vs Viet Minh Insurgent: North Vietnam 1948–52.
One person found this helpful
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William Sherman
3.0 out of 5 stars Good text, rare info, boring photos, awful art work
Reviewed in Canada on August 19, 2021
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Very well written, thoroughly researched with many new facts and useful details. Photos are boring and not the best of the now well known "Dien Bien Phu" collection. The art work of Peter Dennis is just bloody awful, childish and NOT up to the usual Osprey standard. Its useless from a modelling or hobbiest perspective and conveys nothing useful to the narrative. It also shows the artist has no "field" experience with anybody's military. The art editor must have been out to lunch. There are better books, but that's not to say it lacks some genuine value.
One person found this helpful
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