French Foreign Legionnaire vs Viet Minh Insurgent

The French Indochina War (1946-54) was the largest of the first generation of post-World War II wars of decolonization as Vietminh insurgents sought to topple their French colonial masters. It was also unique in that the insurgency evolved from low-level guerrilla activity to mobile operations by a large conventional army which finally defeated a large European-led expeditionary force supported by artillery, armor, and air-power. The war's progress was almost entirely dictated by the extreme terrain, and by the Chinese support enjoyed by the Vietnamese insurgents. The actions explored in this study cover three contrasting phases of the war in Tonkin during 1948-52, setting both sides on the path that would lead to the conflict's climactic encounter at Dien Bien Phu in 1954.

Featuring specially commissioned artwork and drawing upon a range of sources, this meticulously researched study casts new light on the troops who fought on both sides in this evolving and momentous conflict.

Razboiul din Indochina franceza (1946-54) a fost cel mai mare din prima generatie de razboaie de decolonizare post-al doilea razboi mondial, in timp ce insurgentii din Vietminh au incercat sa-si rastoarne stapanii coloniali francezi. A fost, de asemenea, unic prin faptul ca insurgenta a evoluat de la o activitate de gherila de nivel scazut la operatiuni mobile de catre o armata conventionala mare care a invins in cele din urma o mare forta expeditionara condusa de europeni sustinuta de artilerie, armuri si putere aeriana.