Vietnam+War

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 * Vietnam War **

The Vietnam War was one of the longest civil wars fought in the modern world. The war was between North and South Vietnam who were trying to gain control of the government. The North was supported by China and the South was supported by the Americans. The war started around the time when the Vietnamese was a colony of France. The Vietnamese started a revolution and fought for their own independence. After becoming an independent nation Vietnam had many small groups throughout the country trying to take over the leadership and unify Vietnam.

WHO: The Vietnam War was fought by North Vietnam (communist), South Vietnam (anti-commusnist), United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and China. Russia, North Vietnam and China where fighting together agaist South Vietnam, United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. China and North Vietnam were fighting to have a communist goverment and South Vietnam, United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea were fighting to have a democratic goverment.

WHAT: The Vietnam War was being fought over who would unify Vietnam as a country with a democratic government or a communist government. North Vietnam was led by Ho Chi Minh. They wanted to establish a communist government. South Vietnam was led by Ngo Dinh Diem and Nguyen Van Thieu. They wanted to establish a democratic government. Although the war was between North and South Vietnam, neighboring countries became battle zones due to carpet bombing, air raids, and simply reckless bombing from both sides.

WHERE: The Vietnam War was fought in more than one place. It was fought in South Vietnam and on the boarders of Cambodia and Laos. The only fighting that took place that was not on the ground was bombing raids over North Vietnam.

WHY: The Vietnam War started when Vietnam had a revolution against France and became their own independent country. The country was broken up into many different groups but eventually formed together to make 2 main groups: North Vietnam (communist), and South Vietnam (anti-communist). Communist countries supported North Vietnam, E.g. China and Russia. Other countries who did not want communism to spread all over the world supported South Vietnam, E.g. America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea.

OTHER FACTS:
 * 2,709,918 Americans served in Vietnam
 * 58,148 people were killed in Vietnam
 * 75,000 people were servilely injured in Vietnam
 * Out of every 3 men 2 were volunteers in the Vietnam War
 * About 70% out of everyone who died was a volunteer
 * Although the Americans were very supportive of the South, many of the soldiers did not know what they were fighting for. Many Americans did not even know why they were in Vietnam. There have been some instances whereby a commander of a South-Vietnamese/American army is killed under suspicious circumstances and the men use that as an excuse to go home.
 * China and Russia supported North Vietnam but did not send soldiers to fight. They just sold weapons and supplies to the North. Also South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia sent mainly military supplies as well as a minuscule amount of soldiers.
 * 2 million tons of bombs were dropped throughout WWII. Over 7 million bombs were dropped on Vietnam. Many people say that most of it was from the Americans due to General Westmoreland saying that they would "bomb them back into the stone age".

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