Vietnam 1946: How the War Began / Edition 1

by Stein Tonnesson, Philippe Devillers

Overview

Based on multiarchival research conducted over almost three decades, this landmark account tells how a few men set off a war that would lead to tragedy for millions. Stein Tønnesson was one of the first historians to delve into scores of secret French, British, and American political, military, and intelligence documents. In this fascinating account of an unfolding tragedy, he brings this research to bear to disentangle the complex web of events, actions, and mentalities that led to thirty years of war in Indochina. As the story unfolds, Tønnesson challenges some widespread misconceptions, arguing that French general Leclerc fell into a Chinese trap in March 1946, and Vietnamese general Giap into a French trap in December. Taking us from the antechambers of policymakers in Paris to the docksides of Haiphong and the streets of Hanoi, Vietnam 1946 provides the most vivid account to date of the series of events that would make Vietnam the most embattled area in the world during the Cold War period.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780520256026
Publisher:	University of California Press
Publication date:	11/03/2009
Series:	From Indochina to Vietnam: Revolution and War in a Global Perspective , #3
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	392
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Stein Tønnesson was Director of the International Peace Research Institute in Oslo, Norway, from 2001 to 2009. He is author of The Vietnamese Revolution of 1945: Roosevelt, Ho Chi Minh and de Gaulle in a World at War among other books.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations
Foreword by the series editors
Foreword by Philippe Devillers
Acknowledgments
List of abbreviations
Introduction

1. A Clash of Republics
2. The Chinese Trap
3. Modus Vivendi
4. Massacre
5. The French Trap
6. Who Turned Out the Lights?
7. If Only . . .

Notes
Glossary
Bibliography
Index

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"A marvelous read. Tønnesson writes deftly and lucidly. His analysis sparkles with gems of detail and insight."—New Mandala ; Tailand-Laos-Cambodia Group

"A finely layered and textured book at the intersections of international, French and Vietnamese history."—H-Net Reviews

"An authoritative account."—Contemporary Southeast Asia

Editorial Reviews

"An important contribution to the debate about the start of the wars in Indochina that would last thirty years."

H-France Review - David W. Del Testa

A marvelous read. Tønnesson writes deftly and lucidly. His analysis sparkles with gems of detail and insight.

New Mandala ; Tailand-Laos-Cambodia Group

A finely layered and textured book at the intersections of international, French and Vietnamese history.

H-Net Reviews

An authoritative account.

Contemporary Southeast Asia - Qiang Zhai