[1941] Germany declares war to USSR, Japan attacks Pearl Harbour • [1943] World War II, "arbeidseinzats" • [1944] D-Day, the start of the European invasion • [1945] Bombardment of Dresden, Russians and Americans at the Elble, Suicide Hitler, Surrender Germany, Atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Formal end World War II
[1945-1949] Indochina's search for independence • [1946-1954] First Indochina War • [1953] Vietnam invades Laos • [1954] Geneva Conference, Vietnam divided • [1955] South Vietnam, end of monarchy • [1954-1956] Indochina, the end • [1954-1964] Vietnam, towards second Indochina War • [1950-1953]
The Korean War
[ 1941 ] Germany declares war to USSR
On June 22, Germany declares war on and attacks the USSR ( Russia ), along a front extending from the Baltic to the Black Sea. The two greatest armies in The History of the world are now face to face. Germany receives co-operation of Finland in the north and Roumania in the south. On the same day the Foreign Minister of Italy informs the Russian Ambassador that Italy considers herself at war with Russia as from 5 a.m. An estimated total number of 18 million people died in Russia during World War II. In 1944 Jan Montyn would be put into action in Russia.
 Hitlers ambitions to conquer Moscow would eventually weaken his army's strength significantly |
| Although Hitler had a pact with Stalin, he invaded Russia in June 1941 |
On December 7 1941, with a total of 361 warplanes, Japan executes a surprise attack on Pearl Harbour. The fleet destroys American airfields, shipyards, 19 ships, 200 planes and kills 2,300 men. The attack is followed by a declaration that Japan is at war with Britain and the United States of America (USA). In its attempt to seize Asia Pacific, Japan rapidly conquers Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, The Philippines and advances onto Australia and Hawaii. Following the attack on Pearl Harbour, on December 8, the United States ' Congress approves the USA 's entry into the war. On that day Germany and Italy declare war to the USA. In 1945 Jan Montyn would be trained to fight in Japan.
[ 1944 ] D-Day, the start of the European invasion
On June 6, D-Day marks the start of the European invasion. An approximate total of 130,000 British, Canadian and American Allies land in Normandy, France, complemented by approximately 25,000 by air. The landings in Normandy are given the codename 'Operation Neptune' and mark the start of a major offensive against the Germans.
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[ 1945 ] Bombardment of Dresden
During the night of February 13 th and the day of February 14 th the British and US forces drop hundreds of thousand of bombs on Dresden, completely devastating the German city. Dresden was seen as a vital command centre for the German defence against the Russian troops that were approaching from the east. As a result of the bombings, approximately 35,000 people are killed.
Russians and Americans at the Elble
On April 27 the Russians, coming from the east, and the Americans coming from the west, link at the river the Elbe. The event was a major step towards the end of World War II.
Suicide Hitler
German units are starting to surrender, starting with The Netherlands and Denmark on April 26. As the war is coming close to a defeat for Germany, Hitler decides to commit suicide. On April 30 he marries Eva Braun. Together they take cyanide and Hitler shoots himself. Before his death Hitler appoints Admiral Karl Dönitz as his successor.
Surrender Germany
On May 2 nd, Berlin falls. With Hitler being dead, the question becomes critical of who can order the complete surrender of Germany. On May 7 th, Admiral Karl Dönitz signs the instrument of surrender with General Dwight D. Eisenhower and other Allied officers outside of Rheims, France. The subsequent day German officers sign an armistice with the Soviet Union. On May 8, Sir Winston Churchill and US President Harry S. Truman declare V-E Day, which stands for Victory in Europe.
Atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
On August 6 the US drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing and wounding approximately 180,000 citizens. On Japan 's failing to surrender, August 9, a second atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, killing approximately 80,000 citizens.
Formal end World War II
World War II ended on September 2, 1945 with the formal surrender of Japan aboard the U.S. battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay "for the United States, Republic of China, United Kingdom, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and in the interests of the other United Nations at war with Japan ". A pre-condition of Japan is that Emperor Hirohito retained his throne.
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| Dresden, Februari 15, 1945 |
| Hiroshima, atomic bomb |
[ 1945-1949 ] Indochina's search for independence
Cambodia successful
After World War II the sentiment of being free from outside control was tangible within the whole of Indochina. In Cambodia, Sihanouk just had been coronated, which provided for an extra impulse. France was reluctant to part with its colony. Cambodia was however granted independence in 1949.
Laos successful
On July 19, 1949, Laos is recognized as an independent state with ties to France.
Vietnam unsuccessful
On Aug 19, 1945, a spontaneous non-communist meeting in Hanoi triggered the path to independence for Vietnam. France opposed however. In October 1945 the French president Charles de Gaulle sent 35,000 soldiers to South Vietnam to restore French rule, as such triggering a war. In parallel, France successfully started talks with China to withdraw their troops from Vietnam. In February 1946, China 's statesman Chiang Kai-Shek signed an agreement with France to withdraw th e Chinese troops in exchange for French concessions in Shanghai and other Chinese ports. No longer being supported by China, one month later Ho Chi Minh signed the Primary Agreement with France. The agreement allowed French forces back in Vietnam to replace the Chinese troops. In return Minh demanded the French recognition of his Democratic Republic of Vietnam as a free state within the Indochinese Federation and French Union. The Viet Minh, armed and backed up by the French, systematically did away with nationalist Vietnamese groups. In the meanwhile the Vietnamese started talks in France for full independence. The talks failed.
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| China 's statesman Chiang Kai-Shek |
| Charles de Gaulle |
[ 1946-1954 ] First Indochina War
In December 1946 the Communist Viet Minh, led by the Communist leader Ho Chi Minh, initiated the eight-year Indochina War against France. Although the war started as a guerrilla war, ever since in January 1950 the Chinese started providing intelligence and supplier to the Viet Minh, the war turned into a true conventional war. In that same year the USA would also get involved. On December 22 nd, napalm was used for the first time in the Vietnam. Three years later, on December 20 th, 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower was inaugurated as the 34th President of the USA. In clarifying his stand towards Vietnam, Eisenhower cited the 'Domino Theory', in which a Communist victory in Vietnam would result in other countries also falling. He used the theory to get additional support for aid to the war. In April 1953, Vice President Nixon would arrive in Hanoi to tell the French that "It is impossible to lay down arms until victory is won". In the same month the Viet Minh would invade Laos, being assisted by the Pathet Lao. On May 8 th, 1954 the Vietnamese, led by the Communist would conquer Dien Bien Phu by outnumbering the French by nearly five-to-one and due to a decision by the USA to not intervene. The end of French-Indochina was nearby.
| Ho Chi Minh |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower |
[ 1953 ] Vietnam invades Laos
In April 1953, the Communist Viet Minh teamed up with the Pathet Lao to invade Laos. The seizure of Laos would provide the Viet Minh with freedom of movement through a large part of Northern Laos. The Ho Chi Minh trail that passed through Laos and Cambodia to enter Vietnam in the Central Highlands, would turn out to be a vital supply line for the Viet Minh during the entire Vietnam War.
[ 1954 ] Geneva Conference, Vietnam divided
On July 21 st, 1954, the Geneva Conference was held. The outcome was that Vietnam would be divided at the 17 th parallel, with the North being controlled by the Communists, led by Ho Chi Minh, and the South French-backed government of Bao Dai. A period of 300 days was defined for Vietnamese to move around freely between the North and the South, which allowed people to move to the area in Vietnam were they wanted to live. During the same period both the Communist forces in the North and the non-Communist forces in the South were regrouped. Besides the division of Vietnam, the Geneva Conference ordered free elections in Vietnam to solve the matter of unification of the country under one government. The elections were scheduled for July, 1956, but would never take place.
[ 1955 ] South Vietnam, end of monarchy, begin Republic with new president
After the Geneva Conference, the Emperor Bao Doi appointed Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem as his Prime Minister, and empowered him to improve the conditions of the working class and to stop corruption among the politicians. Diem however chose to use his power against the public, his political enemies and the Buddhist population. Once Bao Dai was aware of Diem's agenda, he decided to take action. On April 28, 1955 he regained control of the military himself and summoned Diem to France. Despite Ngo Dinh Diem 's oath of loyalty, he refused to obey. To the complete surprise of Bao Dai, on October 6, 1955 the Ministry of Interior announced a referendum to overthrow Bao Dai in favour of Ngo Dinh Diem and to replace the thousands of years old Vietnamese monarchy with a republic. The Emperor strongly condemned the announcement and on October 18th dismissed Diem as Prime Minister. The referendum took place though, and Diem used all methods to ensure his victory, which included guarding the polls and assaulting people who wanted to vote for the Emperor. Although domestically and internationally everybody was aware of the situation, Bao Dai was forced to abdicate. Although Diem would later receive billions of dollars from the USA, he would continue to be very unpopular with most Vietnamese people. This would be an important element in the war to come, the Vietnam War. Meanwhile, North Vietnam continued to maintain good relations with both China and the USSR, receiving enormous aid from both countries while skilfully protecting the independence of his country.
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| Eisenhower and Diem shake hands |
After President Dwight D. Eisenhower had announced in 1954 that the USA would intervene directly in Vietnam, as such bypassing France, the end of Indochina was just a matter of time. South Vietnam withdrew from the French Union and thus attained complete sovereignty. On April 28 th, 1956, the last French soldier left South Vietnam and the French High Command for Indochina was dissolved.
| Nikita Khrushchev |
| John F. Kennedy |
[ 1954-1964 ] Vietnam, towards second Indochina War
A long period of unrest followed. The by the Geneva Conference ordered elections were prevented by the USA for the reason that the Communist were bound to win. In protest to the American intervention several Vietnamese Buddhist monks chose to immolate themselves in public. In the meantime the USSR, led by Nikita Khrushchev, planned their involvement in the Vietnam situation. On October 12 th, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower announced that the USA would provide military aid and training to South Vietnam. The aid commenced on January 1 st, 1955. In July 1955, Ho Chi Minh visited Moscow and agreed to accept Soviet aid. In March 1959, Ho Chi Minh formally declared a People's War to unite the entire Vietnam under his leadership. It would mark the beginning of the second Indochina War, known as the Vietnam War. After several years of domestic battles in Vietnam, supported by both the USA, including John F. Kennedy, and the USSR, in August 1964, the Americans decided to intervene. In March 1965 the first US combat troops would arrive in South Vietnam.
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[ 1950-1953 ] The Korean War
North Korea invading South Korea On June 25, 1953
North Korea invades South Korea, taking the Southern capital Seoul three days after the start of the invasion. The United Nations (U.N.) condemns the invasion. The USSR boycotts the U.N. Security Council, blocking the U.N. help to South Korea. In a so-called 'police action', the United States (US) leads the U.N. force against North Korea. Four US divisions that were rushed to the Korean peninsula could however do little against a superior North Korean force. On September 15, the U.N. forces land at the port of Inchon near Seoul, successfully cutting off the Northern troops. On September 26, Seoul is taken by U.N. forces. On October 19 the Northern capital Pyongyang is captured.
Border of China
The US troops continued to advance to the North. The announced intention was to unify to two Korea's. China broadcasted the message that it would not accept a US presence in the North of Korea. On October 25, U.N. forces made it all the way to the border between North Korea and China.
North Korea and China vs U.N.
China and North Korea team up and encircle the U.N. forces. Tens of thousands of refugees and U.N. staff are evacuated from the North to the South. The Communist forces push through all the way to the South and invade South Korea on December 31, 1950. Seoul is recaptured on January 4, 1951. The Communist forces continue to move on to the South. About 30 miles South of Seoul they are stopped by the U.N. forces, which start a counter-offensive end January.
Truce with demilitarised zone
In March 1951, the U.N. forces reoccupy Seoul. From there they advance to the North slightly north of the notorious 38th parallel. In April Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the USA, and General Douglas MacArthur, the Commander of the U.N. forces, openly disagree on how to conduct the war. Truman relieves MacArthur of his command. On July 10 th truce talks begin; although there are few war activities, it takes two years to come to a formal cease-fire. The Korean War cost approximately 550,000 U.N. soldiers their lives. North Korean and Chinese casualties were believed to be around 1.5 million. The formal armistice include a demilitarised zone, which spans from 2 kilometres north to 2 kilometres south of the 38 th parallel, a zone that still exists today.
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| South Korea and North Korea get devided in 1953 by the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) |
| South Korean and North Korean soldiers face to face at the DMZ |