De Lattre Line

Transcription

Battle for Tonkin This movie is dedicated to the soldiers of the French Union fallen since 1945 during the Vietnamese war of independance. Pictures of this movie are authentic ones, and have been taken from places of action. Georges Kowal, one of the cameramen, have been killed on the battlefield in the region of Tonkin, on february 20th 1952. Words of Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny are extracted from original audio recordings of his speechs. This city, settled on a side of the Red River, among Delta's paddy fields, it's Hanoi, capital of Tonkin region. One of the Free world's stronghold in Asia. One of the cities that everyone talks about, and which fall and destruction had been numerously fostered. Hanoi is still standing. Its inhabitants leave in peace. Its streets and its avenues are animated. We can go wherever we want. Nevertheless, almost every night in Hanoi, we can hear cannon thunder. In Indochina at war, battle wages on in Tonkin and France is leading here, further India, at 13.000 kilometers from Paris, one of the harshest battle of its history on a land where soldiers breathe poorly with a tough climate. Against which ennemy ? He does not appears on the screen, because he goes to ground, usually hidden when he is not calling the shots, and waiting the night to move. Those roads, those empty paddy fields, those hills and those valley have been battlegrounds and are still watched. Those ruins are due not to ageing, but to the Expeditionnary Corps' ennemy. Those deads have been left by the ennemy into barbwires of an attacked position. Those poor people are fleeing their burning village, their fields devastated by war, and vietminh domination which take their rice and their sons. French army also pay a huge tribute leading this war because of international commitments, keeping standing the French Commonwealth by defending Cambodgian, Laosian and Vietnamese independance. As for deads, it would be useless to hide them. "STRONG STRIKES FROM VIETMINH" It's during fall 1950 that battle for Tonkin began. By setbacks. Vietminh's Long time harassment on our troops is now an unexpextedly harsh offensive. "LANGSON IS EVACUETED" "HARD COMBAT IN TONKIN" "BACKUP FOR INDOCHINA" "TWO VIETMINH'S STRONG OFFENSIVES" "VIETMINH THREATING HANOI" "TONKIN: M. Pignon give order to evacuate citizen" Suddently, Tonkin was thought lost, and hastily-grown defenses seemed to be unable to contain the ennemy. "Tonkin's fate will be settled before Christmas." To conter the disaster had been sent to Indochina a courageous and prestigious man, enoughtly great to bring victory on this tough land. "De Lattre de Tassigny sent to Indochina" It was already a serious situation and on january 14th it became tragic in Vinh-Yen. During the night between 12th and 13th of january from friday to saturday it begun from the right side "Vietminh put pressure on two axes toward Hanoi" According to De Lattre it was a decisive fight that he narrowly won because he did have to. Because it was Vietnam's destiny at stake. For the very first time during this war, Vietminh launched an attack with three well trained, armed and leaded divisions. De Lattre understood that war's rhythm changed, flew over the battlefield, reached front line outposts, asked first assault survivors, then he turned things over, and gave his orders. There were a lack of soldiers so he took them where he could : 7 battalion from all over Conchinchina and Annam. And as there was a lack of time too, he requisitionned all of the civil planes to drop new troops against an enthusiasted ennemy. Just landed, day and night, troops were conveyed to the battlefiel by trucks on mined roads. On their sides, hills, where Vietminh was flooded to Vinh-Yen citadel. It has became true. It wasn't anymore a French General who were fighting. It was the war's spirit that used cunning, was banging and was leaping, turning over the situation in front of an astounded ennemy. Ho Chi Minh as promised to his soldiers that they will celebrate Tet (Vietnamese New Year) at Hanoi. But, since december, the problem wasn't the same. French Expeditionnary Corp hasn't received renforcements but its soul have changed. De Lattre was leading. His orders were passed and executed with zeal. And arms' fortune change its side, because one man made it turn back. The only Vietminh's soldiers who celebrated Tet in Hanoi were prisonners. War to get farther away from Hanoi's Cathedral. Long weeks rumbling canon is now quiet. In the whole world, this surprising news belied the too early announced defeat. Hanoi was now saved, could now breathe and start again to live.