The Second French Indochina Campaign, also known as the Japanese coup of March 1945, was a Japanese military operation in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, then a French colony and known as French Indochina, during the final months of the Second World War. Vietnam was not a real colony at this time. The area known as Cochinchina was a colony proper. However, the regions of Annam and Tonkin were French "protectorates".
The campaign resulted in short-lived independence of the Empire of Vietnam, the Kingdom of Laos and the Kingdom of Cambodia, and in the complete disorganization of Indochina's French administration. A small-scale campaign of guerrilla warfare followed, while France prepared to retaliate, but Japan ultimately surrendered before any major military engagements could take place. As result of the confusion the Viet Minh were able to take control of the power vacuum that was presented to them.
Read more about Second French Indochina Campaign: The Coup, Consequences, Aftermath, See Also
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