Read an article in the TIME-LIFE WWII series, about how FDR by 1944 IIRC were considering an invasion of Vietnam. This piece theorised that had the Allies invaded from southern China and kicked the Japs out, they would've been treated as liberators by the local pop, which might've undermined the prospects of the US fighting the VW 20 yrs later. IIRC, the proposed invasion of VN was rendered unnecessary by later developments in the war, but could anybody project a POD where the Allies do conduct a combined-arms invasion of the country and what follow-on political, military and economic effects would be ?
Allied invasion of Vietnam 1944
- Thread starter Melvin Loh
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Redbeard
Banned
Rolling up the front from the other side
When it became within sight that Germany would be overwhelmed the British hoped that it would be in time for them to mount a major offensive from the IO to liberate the British possesions in the Far East. The British didn't have the resources to wage a major war both in Europe and in the Far East/Pacific region. British planners reckoned that major operations in Europe had to be over by autumn of 1944 for the British to be able to mount an independent offensive from the IO.
As we know it didn't go that way (but Market Garden probably was a desperate attempt), but imagine Germany had for some reason fallen before autumn of 1944 (pick a PoD yourself), then I guess the British would have started an offensive from the IO and having Singapore and Malaya as the primary targets. But Vietnam would be a natural second target, perhaps in an operation combining pushes from Thailand and China with landings in Vietnam.
Regards
Steffen Redbeard
Steffen Redbeard
Melvin Loh said:
When it became within sight that Germany would be overwhelmed the British hoped that it would be in time for them to mount a major offensive from the IO to liberate the British possesions in the Far East. The British didn't have the resources to wage a major war both in Europe and in the Far East/Pacific region. British planners reckoned that major operations in Europe had to be over by autumn of 1944 for the British to be able to mount an independent offensive from the IO.
As we know it didn't go that way (but Market Garden probably was a desperate attempt), but imagine Germany had for some reason fallen before autumn of 1944 (pick a PoD yourself), then I guess the British would have started an offensive from the IO and having Singapore and Malaya as the primary targets. But Vietnam would be a natural second target, perhaps in an operation combining pushes from Thailand and China with landings in Vietnam.
Regards
Steffen Redbeard
Steffen Redbeard
Operation DRACULA
Yeah that's true Steffen, Mountbatten and SEAC were planing to conduct a combined ops invasion to retake Malaya by mid-1945 designated Op DRACULA, but which was rendered redundant by the atom bomb. Hence, OTL British and Indian troops were able to return to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to accept the Jap surrender without any fighting.
Man, I wish I'd remembered more of that piece in the Time-Life book: the speculation was pretty strong in the article that the VW could've been avoided by an Allied invasion of VN during WWII since the Allies would've been hailed as liberators by the local ppl instead of as occupiers as was the OTL case from 1945-46 after the British/Indian forces, then replaced by the French colonials, were deployed to Indochina. I think the Chinese did have a few divs for any proposed invasion, and the US could've provided logistical support. Any further thoughts ?
Yeah that's true Steffen, Mountbatten and SEAC were planing to conduct a combined ops invasion to retake Malaya by mid-1945 designated Op DRACULA, but which was rendered redundant by the atom bomb. Hence, OTL British and Indian troops were able to return to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to accept the Jap surrender without any fighting.
Man, I wish I'd remembered more of that piece in the Time-Life book: the speculation was pretty strong in the article that the VW could've been avoided by an Allied invasion of VN during WWII since the Allies would've been hailed as liberators by the local ppl instead of as occupiers as was the OTL case from 1945-46 after the British/Indian forces, then replaced by the French colonials, were deployed to Indochina. I think the Chinese did have a few divs for any proposed invasion, and the US could've provided logistical support. Any further thoughts ?
POD Sat Dec 6, White House, It had Been a Long Day and FDR was Felling Tiried, So when His Aide sugested, Stopping FDR agreed. After All He would get to the Last Folder, after Church Tomorrow.
Sun. Dec 28, It had been anothe hectic Week like they all seened to be since Pearl. At least noone had Put any thing new, in His In basket on this Sunday. And this was the last folder. Hum, Something about a proposal to explore Ensteins, Bomb Idea. Well it would be approved, but there were LOTs of other Prodgests, In line before it. It would have to fight for funding with everything else.
August, 1944, President Turman, Asked his Aide what was left for the Day. "Just one last appointment with a General Grove, about a Secert project out in White Sands." Grove Breifed Turman on the Project, at current funding levels, they were still 24 months from testing. ?Any way to up the level, in order to cut the time to 18 months ?
Sept, 1945, Dispite the surrender of Germany last Month the Pentagon was still awfull Busy, There were three Invadsions on tap. The Big One into Japan, of Couse, But there was Operation South Star, into Japans new Ally, Indonesia. And Operation Wilson's Letter, a smaller invadsion in Surport of Britian into Vietnam. Fortunally there would be help there, from a native General HO Chi Min, who had three Divisions in place.
Now if only the Transfer of Forces from Europe went as well as Stalin's Russians in Korea.
Sun. Dec 28, It had been anothe hectic Week like they all seened to be since Pearl. At least noone had Put any thing new, in His In basket on this Sunday. And this was the last folder. Hum, Something about a proposal to explore Ensteins, Bomb Idea. Well it would be approved, but there were LOTs of other Prodgests, In line before it. It would have to fight for funding with everything else.
August, 1944, President Turman, Asked his Aide what was left for the Day. "Just one last appointment with a General Grove, about a Secert project out in White Sands." Grove Breifed Turman on the Project, at current funding levels, they were still 24 months from testing. ?Any way to up the level, in order to cut the time to 18 months ?
Sept, 1945, Dispite the surrender of Germany last Month the Pentagon was still awfull Busy, There were three Invadsions on tap. The Big One into Japan, of Couse, But there was Operation South Star, into Japans new Ally, Indonesia. And Operation Wilson's Letter, a smaller invadsion in Surport of Britian into Vietnam. Fortunally there would be help there, from a native General HO Chi Min, who had three Divisions in place.
Now if only the Transfer of Forces from Europe went as well as Stalin's Russians in Korea.
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