Second French Indochina Campaign - Consequences

Consequences

Further information: Empire of Vietnam, August Revolution

The Republic of China, which had given shelter to escaped French troops, and the United States, were reluctant to start a large-scale operation to restore French authority, as they did not favour colonial rule. Both countries ordered that their forces provide no assistance to the French, but General Claire Lee Chennault went against orders, and aircraft from his 51st Fighter Group and 27th Troop Carrier Squadron flew support missions for the French forces retreating into China.

Commandos from the British liaison organisation Force 136 had been conducting minor operations in French Indochina since late 1944. After the coup, French and British reinforcements were parachuted into Indochina and conducted guerrilla operations against the Japanese. French troops which had escaped from the Japanese coup in March joined the French and British commandos to take part in the fighting. French resistance groups had more latitude for action in Laos, as the Japanese had less control over this part of the territory. However, the commandos lacked precise orders from their governments and the practical means to mount any large-scale operations.

The French and Lao guerrilla groups also lacked significant firepower, but nevertheless managed to gain control of several rural areas. In northern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh's Viet Minh started their own guerrilla against the Japanese and established their bases in the countryside without meeting much resistance from the occupying forces, who were mostly present in the cities. The Viet Minh lacked the military force to launch a full-scale attack against the Japanese, and their actions were limited to a few attacks againts IJA military posts.

In France, recently liberated from Nazi occupation, the French Far East Expeditionary Corps was established and prepared to be sent to Indochina to fight the Japanese.

However, Japanese troops surrendered when Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's capitulation in August. On 16 August, the Japanese garrisons officially handed control to Bao Dai in the North and the United Party in the South. This however allowed nationalist groups to take over public buildings in most of the major cities. The Viet Minh were thus presented with a power vacuum and on 19th the August Revolution commenced in which the Viet Minh easily took power. On 25 August 1945, Bao Dai was forced to abdicate in favour of Ho and the Viet Minh As Bao Dai abdicated, the Viet Minh took control of Hanoi. In most of French Indochina, the Japanese did not oppose the Viet Minh's takeover, as they were reluctant to let the French retake control of the colony. The French troops who had been arrested in March were kept in their jails by the Japanese. Imperial Japanese Army troops briefly clashed with Viet Minh guerillas in Annam, but there were no major military engagements. One exception was the Thai Nguyen Province, where Japanese troops refused to surrender and did battle with the Viet Minh from 20 to 25 August 1945. They finally surrendered on 26 August 1945, and the Viet Minh could take possession of their weapons. Hô Chi Minh proclaimed Vietnam's independence on 2 September 1945.