North Vietnamese Strategy During the Tet Offensive and Psychological Victory A David Hommer Production

Key Elements of Thesis

Logistical PlanningPre-Assault Reconnaissance

Diversionary AttacksUse Of Mass Media

What Was The Tet Offensive?General GiapTet Lunar HolidayCease-Fire tradition

Tet Offensive Combatants North Vietnamese troops: 80,000 Viet Cong southern insurgents total

participation: Unknown American military personnel: 200,000

Beginning of The Tet Offensive Diversionary attack Viet Cong disguise

Viet Cong sapper attack on the U.S. Embassy at Saigon

Great Seal at Embassy

Premature Assault

Logistical Planning Planning began months prior Ho Chi Minh Trail North Vietnamese Minister’s Offer US bombing

Pre-Assault Reconnaissance Orders of General Giap Reconnaissance units Conducted reconnaissance of routes to

objectives Analysis of enemy positions and

strength

Diversionary Attacks (Khe Sanh) Major battle of the Vietnam War Westmoreland, final battle in war 20,000 North Vietnamese, 6,000 US

Marines Main store of ammunition destroyed

Role of American Mass Media Mass media=Unhappy American public Riots in America, demonstrations Made it clear Johnson administration

was lying Mass media sensationalized the fighting U.S. Secretary Dean Rusk was not

pleased

Map of Attack

Effects of the Tet Offensive Effectively ended

American escalation in Vietnam

Demonstrated the capability of the North Vietnamese

Role of mass media Americans began

looking for an “exit strategy”

Conclusion Tet Offensive: military defeat,

psychological victory North Vietnamese strategy Masterminded by General Vo Nguyen

Giap