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"The definitive account" (Saturday Review) of the battle that paved the way for American involvement in Vietnam . The 1954 battle of Dien Bien Phu ranks with Stalingrad and Tet for what it ended (imperial ambitions), what it foretold (American involvement), and what it symbolized: A guerrilla force of Viet Minh destroyed a technologically superior French army, convincing the Viet Minh that similar tactics might prevail in battle with the U.S.
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"CASTOR" was probably the first and last airborne operation in history in which the leading aircraft contained three generals along with the paratroop pathfinders. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
"CASTOR" was probably the first and last airborne operation in history in which the leading aircraft contained three generals along with the paratroop pathfinders. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Part tragedy,but equal parts farce - this book tells in imense detail the destruction of not only the French army at Dien Bien Phu, but also the end of the French Imperial Dream in Indo-China.
The book is a superb military history, neccessrily written from the French side; but Fall's position as a French academic gave him access to military archives that had been previously closed. But it goes beyond simple military history; through interviews with survivors Fall is able to piece together the horror that the defenders went through. It becomes a story of a failed project; gathering its own insiduous momentum. The archives also show the political apsect to the conclusion - old men arguing in wood panelled rooms as young men died in the fields.
The coverage of the Foreign Legion coup d'etat within the surrounded camp is amazing - Fall graps the desperation of the professional soldier when he knows someone in command has fouled up.
This is the best work of military history I can recommend. It was required reading by the beseiged US Marine officers at Khe Sahn in 1968. If you are at all interested in the Vietnam war I can also recommend "Street without Joy", also by Fall, and "Dispatches" by Micheal Herr.
Unfortunatly Fall was diagnosed with cancer, and in a last - prophetic ? - trip to South East Asia he was killed by a mine on the Street Without Joy, in 1967.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I visited Dien Bien Phu this year (08/01), and had begun to read Fall's masterpiece in anticipation of my arrival there. I was still reading it (and re-reading portions of it) over the two days I spent in the valley, and without it and it's resources (especially maps) my visit would not have marked me as much as it did.
The book itself is a magnificent synopsis of extensive research and insight that charaterises its author. True, it is a detailed account, but this is hardly problematic, as many of his most interesting anecdotes (and there are many) are contained in his extensive references.
In my opinion, Fall achieves that most elusive of goals for all non-fiction writers: the combination of intrigue with fact. If more military histories demonstrated the same level of skill and dedication as this book does, the genre would not be limited to so-called "war-buffs", as is apparently the case. Its only weakness is its silence on the Viet Minh side of the battle, but there are more than enough sources out there to supplement this one.
I would recommend this book very strongly to any reader interested in Vietnam in general, French colonial history, military history generally, and to anyone thinking of doing research work who could benefit from a fine example of how to do it well.
It's a trite cliche, but it really IS one of the best books I have ever read.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Fall has given an impressive amount of detail; enough to satisfy an historian. At the same time, the book is emotionally engaging and conveys the drama of this long struggle.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Battle for Dien Bien Phu
Anyone with an interest in this battle and this period of history should make this book their premier choice. Read more
Published 5 months ago by John Kelly IOM
A tale of French Hell
The story of the fall of Dien Bien Phu is expertly told by Bernard Fall. But the journey is a difficult one and you should know what you are getting into before you start it. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Robin L. Stacpoole
An empire sacrifices its non-commissioned officers...
Bernard Fall uses a very fitting epigraph from Menachem Begin, of all people, to foreshadow one of his book's themes: "When a nation re-awakens, its finest sons are prepared to... Read more
Published 17 months ago by John P. Jones III
The end of an era in warfare
Bernard Fall "Hell in a very small place: Dien Bien Phu"
Bernard Fall's recount of the siege of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 is a classic. Read more
Bernard Fall's recount of the siege of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 is a classic. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Dr Neil MacNeill
Dien bien Phu-the battle.
An easy five-star review.
Though it is expained why the troops were inserted into an isolated valley and the politics and diplomacy of the attempts to save the defenders are... Read more
Though it is expained why the troops were inserted into an isolated valley and the politics and diplomacy of the attempts to save the defenders are... Read more
Published on 15 April 2010 by C.D. ADAMS
Too much information, too little drama
Like many historical works this comes overburdened with information, with the author fetishising research, all at the cost of the very real human drama. Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2005 by Mr. Warren M. Fisher
Very detailed and informitive.
Great book if you want to know every minute detail about Dien Bien Phu. To me it spends way to much time with the politics of why and how France found itself in Vietnam. Read more
Published on 3 July 1999
Essential reading for all Vietnam scholars.
Dien Bien Phu was one of this century's few truly decisive battles. Fall conveys the scope of the tragedy as it unfolded, in the appalling trenches and deadly skies above Dien... Read more
Published on 17 Aug 1998
The definitive account of the siege of Dien Bien Phu
This is an immensly enjoyable book which relates the siege from both sides in immense detail. The sort of book you can open to any page and find rivetting. Read more
Published on 13 Aug 1998
This book is one of the finest I have read!
This was an excellent and detailed history, both of the battle and the politics behind it. I would recomend this book to everyone.
Published on 19 Feb 1998
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