As with the countries of origin for most of our immigrant ancestors, Vietnam has a long, rich, and complicated history spanning millennia of cultural and political evolution. One of the key chapters in this history is the country's control during World War II, a period that significantly shaped its future trajectory.
As the premiere episode of the new PBS documentary miniseries shows, America's involvement in Vietnam can be tracked back to World War II. During this time, Vietnam was under the control of Japan, which had invaded and occupied the country in 1940.
The conflict in Vietnam took root during an independence movement against French colonial rule and evolved into a Cold War confrontation. Japan's control of Vietnam during World War II played a pivotal role in setting the stage for these subsequent events.
Among the 20th-century revolutionaries, Ho Chi Minh waged the longest — and in terms of human lives sacrificed, the costliest — battle against colonial powers. His leadership during World War II laid the groundwork for Vietnam's struggle for independence.
War isn't waged like it once was. In Russia and Ukraine, drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are shifting the tides of battle. This modern warfare technology contrasts starkly with the historical events that unfolded in Vietnam during World War II.
Why did the U.S. go to war in Vietnam? This is a question historians continue to debate. One of the main reasons it remains a source of contention is the complex web of alliances and power dynamics that emerged during World War II.
An overview of all the major wars and armed conflicts since World War II, from the Korean War to the Russo-Ukrainian clash, sheds light on the broader geopolitical context within which Vietnam's control during World War II unfolded.
A chronology of key events reveals the timeline of Vietnam's struggle for independence and the various foreign powers that exerted control over the country. From French colonial rule to Japanese occupation during World War II, Vietnam's sovereignty was repeatedly challenged.
In 1948, the Korea Peninsula was divided between a Soviet-backed government in the North and an American-backed government in the South. This division mirrored the geopolitical tensions that also influenced Vietnam's control during World War II.
