Demilitarized Zone
The demilitarized zone in Vietnam was an area where neither North Vietnam and South Vietnam agreed not to fight. This zone was a combat free zone. The zone extended five kilometers north and south of the Ben Hai river. The agreement between the North and the South on the zone was accomplished through the Geneva Accords. Once the demilitarized zone was established in 1959, the United States began to build barriers along the zone. The United States used the land to its advantage as well as set up barbed wire, landmines, and electrified fences to help defend South Vietnam. The line where the barriers were constructed was called the "McNamara Line" due to the fact that it was the name of the man who had the idea of constructing the barrier.Sadly, even though the zone was agreed upon, North Vietnam did not abide by it and eventually made an attack on marines in northern Quang Tri. This attack led to the United States retaliating and shelling North Vietnam. In turn, creating a shelling duel between the two for the next year. After the shelling, North Vietnam led an attack called the "Easter Offensive" that pushed the demilitarized zone back twenty kilometers south. After the "Easter Offensive", the south retaliated and attacked the north in the battle called "Saigon" where the south pushed back the north to the same line they were at before the "Easter Offensive". After these two major attacks that lasted months at a time ended, the National Assembly of Vietnam disestablished the demilitarized zone in 1976. The reason behind disestablishing the zone was due to the fact that neither side was abiding by the agreement anymore so they disestablished it. The significance of this area to the book it that it gives us a description of the place where the book took place. It allows us to learn more about the war, where certain soldiers were stationed, and the history behind the place.
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| Map where North and South Vietnam connected and the Demilitarized Zone separating them |
327 Words
References;
"DMZ - Vietnam." Douglas MacArthur, www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1885.html.
"Vietnamese DMZ." The Vietnam War, thevietnamwar.info/vietnamese-dmz/.
I think the idea of this zone is insane. To have two parties that are fighting to agree to a spot where no fighting is to occur. Although this was broken, its amazing to see that the idea was thought up and attempted. I also think its super interesting how the Americans used this as an advantage. I wonder how the war would have changed if this zone stayed and was followed by both sides respectfully.
ReplyDeleteI feel like disobeying agreements in a war just makes more enemies for you and makes future agreements more difficult to come to. If you break treaty rules for example, then no one will want to make another one with you.
ReplyDeleteThis was super interesting because I had always heard of the DMZ but had never actually known what it was. I wonder just how beneficial the zone actually was for this war because both sides seemed to have broken the rules
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