KWAZULU-NATAL BRANCH

NEWSLETTER No 404
September 2009

The August 2009 Darrell Hall Memorial lecture was presented by fellow member Dr. Deena Padayachee entitled "The French under siege: Alesia, Sedan and Dien Bien Phu."
Napoleon III ordered the invasion of Vietnam in 1858. The conquest was completed in 1885 but it was not an easy victory; the Vietnamese even killed two top French commanders, Francis Garnier and Henri Riviere in ambushes.
During World War II the Japanese occupied Vietnam and they built an airfield at a little hamlet in North West Vietnam near the Laotian border. In September, 1945, Ho Chí Minh announced the formation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. However at Potsdam it had been decided that the Chinese and the British (using Indian soldiers) would occupy the north and the south of the country respectively until the French forces returned to Vietnam. That resulted in armed resistance by the Vietnamese people to the French reoccupation of their country. Over 16 000 elite battle-hardened, experienced professional French imperial soldiers and local Indochinese many World War II veterans were recruited.

The Vietnamese were commanded by General Giáp, educated at the University of Hanoi where he gained a bachelor's degree in political economy and a law degree. He had joined the Communist Party in 1931 and took part in several demonstrations against French rule. He fled to China where he joined up with Ho Chí Minh, the leader of the Vietnam Independence League (Viet Minh). Giap moved his headquarters to Dien Bien Phu so that he could personally oversee the operation. Ho Chi Minh joined him there.

By 1953 Vietnam had become the graveyard of the careers of many illustrious French generals including, Philippe Leclerc. At this time America was underwriting 80% of French expenditures in Indochina.

In 1953, the French had begun to strengthen their defences in the Hanoi delta region to prepare for a series of offensives against Viet Minh staging areas in northwest Vietnam. They had set up fortified towns and outposts in the areas near the Chinese border to the north.

The French army air-lifted soldiers adjacent to a key Viet Minh supply line to Laos. This would effectively cut off Viet Minh soldiers fighting in Laos and force them to withdraw. In late November and early December 1952, Giap attacked the French outpost and was beaten back repeatedly with very heavy losses. The French hoped that by repeating the setup on a larger scale, they would be able to bait Giap into committing the bulk of his forces in a massed assault. This would enable superior French artillery, armor, and air support to wipe out the exposed Viet Minh forces.

The United States did covertly participate in the battle, however following a request for help from Henri Navarre, Radford provided two squadrons of B-26 Invader bomber aircraft to support the French. Operations at Dien Bien Phu began at 10:35 on the morning of November 20, 1953. In Operation Castor, the French dropped or flew 9,000 troops into the area over three days. On November 24, Giap ordered the 148th Infantry Regiment and the 316th division to attack the French soldiers in Lai Chau province. Navarre envisioned Dien Bien Phu as a mobile battle. In reality, Dien Bien Phu required someone adept at World War I-style trench warfare, something for which de Castries was not suited. At Dien Bien Phu, Giap would spend months stockpiling ammunitions and emplacing heavy artillery and anti-aircraft guns before making his move. The Vietnamese brought in all they needed via roads over mountains and through the jungle - using the peasantry, bicycles and trucks. French air was completely unsuccessful in preventing an enemy build-up of supplies, heavy artillery, and combat forces. By nightfall, all French central positions had been captured.

On May 8, the Viet Minh counted 11,721 prisoners, of whom 4,436 were wounded. This was the greatest number the Viet Minh had ever captured: one-third of the total captured during the entire war. The prisoners were divided into groups. Able bodied soldiers were force-marched over 250 miles to prison camps to the north and east, where they were intermingled with Viet Minh soldiers to discourage French bombing runs. Hundreds died of disease on the way.

The Main Talk was presented by Brig. General Albie Gotze on "Operation Downfall - The US planned invasion of Japan, WW2."
Albie commented that we should be grateful to President Truman for ordering the dropping of Atomic bombs on Japan, thus saving many American lives. The ultimate act in the Pacific would be the invasion of the Japanese mainland that would demand the strongest possible combined efforts. Previous Island hopping operations had taught the Allies that Japanese fanaticism increased the closer they got to Japan. A mighty armada was being prepared for the final blow at the heart of Japan. The operation was given the code name "Operation Downfall." The primary considerations were time and especially casualties. Few people were completely aware of the elaborate defences the Japanese had prepared. Some were of the opinion that Japan could be bombed into submission, but it was argued that this would prolong the war indefinitely.

Physically, Japan made an imposing target, with few beaches suitable for invasion.

A massive two stage was planned, the first against Kyushu, code named "Olympic," planned for November 1945. The second against Honshu and the Tokyo Plain planned for March 1946, code named "Coronet."

The Chiefs of Staff reported to President Truman that the cost in lives would be one million Americans.

The whole plan would involve five million American servicemen and the largest concentration of Planes and ships ever assigned to a single campaign. General MacArthur in command of "Operation Olympic" would launch the first attack with 383 000 men to drive up the eastern and prevent any Japanese reinforcements. The massive fire power of the third and fifth fleets would provide strategic support.

Japanese OC General Hata had two armies positioned at the beachhead and one in reserve. How fast these reinforcements could be deployed was uncertain due to the vulnerability of Japanese lines of communications. The second stage "Operation Coronet" after reaching objectives was intended to convince the Japanese that the war was lost.

In May 1945, preliminary fighter sweeps over southern Japan, flew from the recently captured air base at Okinawa. In July 1 000 heavy bombers attacked Tokyo. These attacks appeared to have no effect on the Japanese military leaders, therefore President Truman approved "Operation Downfall" on 24th July. Two days later the Potsdam Declaration called on Japan to surrender unconditionally. The Japanese knew they could no longer win the war but they believed that they could make the cost of conquering Japan too high for the Americans to accept, which may lead to an armistice rather than defeat.

The Japanese were feverishly building Kamikaze aircraft and training pilots for the coming assault. They had 10 000 aircraft of all types available which possibly could destroy 400 ships. The Japanese also had several hundred suicide ships available. The army had 65 divisions in the homeland, but only enough equipment for 40 and ammunition for 30. In addition they raised the "Patriotic Citizens Force" which included all men between the ages of 15 and 40 and women 17 and 40. They were augmented by the whole population armed with muskets, longbows or bamboo spears. The civilian population was inflamed by slogans like "One hundred million will die for the emperor in massive suicide attacks." It is estimated that the total Japanese casualties would be 5 to 10 million.

Admiral Nimitz proposed sending a fleet to the invasion beaches a couple of weeks before the real invasion to lure out the Japanese. This fleet will not consist of the valuable transport ships, instead it will ships loaded from stem to stern with anti aircraft guns.

The battle for Japan might well have resulted in the biggest bloodbath of modern warfare. The invasion never became a realty because on August 6 1945 the atomic bomb "Little Boy' was dropped on Hiroshima. Three days later a second called "Fat Boy" was dropped Nagasaki. Within days the war was over. The cost in lives that resulted from the two atom bombs was considered small in comparison to the total number of Japanese and American lives by invading Japan. 12 000 were killed resulting from the Hiroshima bomb and 80 000 at Nagasaki. Both cities were devastated and many more people died from radiation sickness and burns. Japan formally surrendered to the Allies on 2 September 1945.

Albie summarised by informing the audience that 500 000 purple heart medals were manufactured in anticipation of the casualties resulting from the invasion of Japan. To present date, since the end of World War 2, all military casualties sustained in wars and operations including Korea and Vietnam have not exceeded that number. In 2003 there were still 120 000 in stock. So many are in surplus that combat units in the field keep purple hearts on hand for immediate award.

Lt. Colonel Dr. Graeme Fuller thanked the speakers for two such excellent and different presentations. Deena's in-depth study of this catastrophic French campaign showed how it seemed to hinge underestimation of the enemy's ability. He then thanked Albie for a well researched talk that was interspersed with Albie's well known wit.

THE SOCIETY'S NEXT MEETING;
THURSDAY 10 September 2009 - 19.00 for 19.30
Usual Venue: Murray Theatre, Civil Engineering Building, Howard College Campus, UKZN

The DDH Memorial Lecture will be presented by Chairman Bill Brady on "The Outbreak of World War 2, the 70th Anniversary."
The Main Talk will be presented by fellow member Donald Davies on "The Men that went to War" (31 & 34 Squadron SAAF.)

Battlefield Tour - 9th to 11th October 2009

This year's tour will be to Hlobane (28th March 1879) and Khambule (29th March 1879) in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, over the weekend of the 10th to 11th October 2009. We have negotiated a special rate with Oxford Lodge, Vryheid, at R500 per room sharing (R250 pp) / R380 per person single accommodation on a B & B basis (dinner for own account at one of the nearby restaurants). MEMBERS ARE REQUESTED TO MAKE THEIR OWN BOOKINGS DIRECTLY WITH THE LODGE. The contact details are 034 980 9280 or via e-mail on enquiries@oxfordlodge.co.za Please ask for Heidi or Juanita and refer to the SA Military History Society Tour - Ken Gillings. If you wish to join the tour on Saturday 10th October 2009, we intend leaving the lodge at 10h00. Please bear in mind that the travelling time to Vryheid from Durban is between 3 1/2 and 4 hours! You will still qualify for the special rate if you only stay for one night. NOTE: We intend transporting members to the summit of Hlobane by 4x4 vehicles. If you have a 4x4 available, please indicate by e-mailing Ken on ken.gillings@mweb.co.za . An application form will be circulated at the next two meetings. The cost will be R30 per person for members and R50 per person for non-members.

Magersfontein March - Saturday 12th December 2009.

The 110th Anniversary of the famous Magersfontein Battle will be on Friday 11 December 2009. To commemorate this eventful action, there shall be a MAGERSFONTEIN DAY MARCH on Saturday 12 December 2009.
For more information, and the reservation/booking form, please open the attached program. Reservations are essential as numbers are limited.
International Conference on the Anglo-Boer War - 25th to 27th January, 2010. The KZN Branch of the SA Military History Society and the Ladysmith Siege Museum Trust are arranging a conference to coincide with the 110th anniversary of the Siege of Ladysmith. The conference, which will be held at Platrand Lodge on the slopes of Wagon Hill Battlefield, will be preceded by tours of Elandslaagte, Colenso, Spioenkop and (time permitting) the Thukela Heights Battlefields. Speakers from the UK, USA and South Africa will be presenting papers incorporating an impressive array of topics. Registration for the Conference should be made with Mrs Lera Campher via e-mail on camphere@telkomsa.net . The costs have been kept to an absolute minimum and will cover teas and lunches.

Military Parade through Ladysmith - Saturday 27th February 2010. The Ladysmith/eMnambiti Municipality will be hosting a Siege Festival to coincide with the 110th anniversary of the Relief of Ladysmith. SANDF Reserve Force Regiments that were involved on both the Boer and British sides during the War will be invited to parade through the town. Further details will be distributed to members once they have been received.