Hell in a Very Small Place: The Siege of Dien Bien Phu

by Bernard B. Fall

Book Overview

From the acclaimed scholar and reporter, a thorough and revealing account of the historic turning point in Vietnam's long struggle--the 1954 battle for Dien Bien Phu

Like Gettysburg, Stalingrad, Midway, and Tet, the battle at Dien Bien Phu--a strategic attack launched by France against the Vietnamese in 1954 after eight long years of war--marked a historic turning point. By the end of the 56-day siege, a determined Viet Minh guerrilla...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 030681157X
• ISBN13: 9780306811579
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 568 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Hell in a very place

As a military history buff I have found the book very interesting {still reading] the story about the French & there battle at Dien Bein Phu should have been a lesson for our U. S. Generals.

Hell In A Very Small Place

Bernard Fall obviously did extensive research for this work, and his writing style is so invoking, so compelling. He covers all aspects: An almost diary-like account of battle itself, the reasons why it was fought, the international haggling and politics involved in trying to save the Dien Bien Phu garrison. Most importantly, he puts you right in the midst of the battle. When you read this book, you can actually feel the emotions: The fear of going through another Viet Minh barrage, and the tension before yet another infantry attack; the determination of fighting for survival, or to save comrades; the satisfaction after a successful counterattack, and the frustration of dealing with uncomprehending leadership in Hanoi. If you're a fan of military history, this book will not disappoint you. In fact, it will be something you'll take off your bookshelf, time and again.

One Of the Best

If you have an interest in the history of the Vietnam War, or the Indochina War, then this is basically a must read, it will simply put the entire French war in Indochina in perspective for you (though I would also recommend you read "Street Without Joy"). As other reviewers have said, its almost appalling at the similarities between the French mistakes during their war in Indochina and the US's mistakes during its war, so much of it could have been avoided if the right people would have listened and done the proper background work on Vietnam. As far as the book goes, if you want to know something about the Battle of Dien Ben Phu, this book can tell you, it simply has everything, maps, strategies, the times and places that the individual attacks/counterattacks happened, absolutely everything. Yes, there are a lot of military terms and units that will be referenced in the book, but its still well worth the read. Also gives a nice buildup to the battle, as to what had been happening in the war up to that point, and why the French felt it necessary to take such a gamble behind enemy lines. Trust me, its a long book, but its all well worth it, and you will come away with a better understanding of how the French got there, and why we eventually took over after they pulled out. Its unfortunate that our men had to suffer or die needlessly because the right people didnt get their hands on some of the great books out of this era, things could have been a lot different, but hindsight is always 20-20.

SHOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED READING

I read this book while serving as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam in 1967. I found the book in a Special Services Library. My first thought was, "Has anyone in our government read this book?" My second thought was, "Why hasn't EVERY commander in Vietnam been required to read this book?"There were so many parallels to so many situations I observed in Vietnam that it was incredible. Two that immediately came to mind were Khe Sanh and Dak To, both located in valleys surrounded by higher ground, safely accessible only by air and isolated from the nearest major support facilities.We never benefitted from any of the lessons that the Viet Minh taught the French and we let the Viet Cong teach them to us all over again.Bernard B. Fall wrote from the persective of a former member of the French military and continued to write throughout most of the American involvement. He died covering the war in Vietnam. Other books by Mr. Fall include: Vietnam Reader, Vietnam Witness, The Viet Minh Regime and Street Without Joy.

"Those Who Fail To Learn From The Mistakes of the Past. . ."

Bernard Fall's book, HELL IN A VERY SMALL PLACE is the definitive history of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, a battle that had serious implications for generations to follow. In it, he recounts in detail the planning and execution of the battle at all levels. The possibility that a small, preindustrial state like Vietnam could defeat a modern army never entered the minds of the French, until it was too late.The Communists were adept at waging war at the military and political levels simultaneously. In order for the political, main attack to succeed, Dien Bien Phu had to be in Communist hands prior to the Geneva Convention. The number of casualties the North Viets had to sustain was irrelevant so long as they got what they wanted: a strong bargaining position at Geneva. After France left, if Communism was going to be contained in Indochina, America was going to have to do it.Communist tactics such as moving artillery pieces and the tons of ammunition to support them down seemingly impassable roads and digging anaconda-like trenches around French positions slowly choking the life out of the garrison would soon be seen again by American soldiers. Western planning books said this could not be done. The books were wrong. They would still be wrong a few years later when the Americans arrived.On the political front, France was reduced to begging for American air support to save the beleagured garrison and with it, their entire position in Indochina. The question of whether the U.S. could or should intervene and if so, how, was debated at the highest levels for weeks. As the politicians and diplomats bickered, the garrison slowly suffered, bled, and died. HELL IN A VERY SMALL PLACE is a manual for communist political and military tactics used in Vietnam. Our failure to heed the lessons learned there cost many Americans their lives. We indeed failed to learn from the mistakes of the past. As usual, it was the soldiers on the ground who paid the price for those mistakes with their lives.