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This is a list of units and commands that took part in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu during the First Indochina War, with the major commands that took part in operations.
| Group | Commander | Main units |
|---|---|---|
| Operational Group North-West (GONO) | Colonel Christian de Castries | |
| Group Mobile 6 (GM 6) | Lieutenant Colonel André Lalande | 3/3 REI 2/1 RTA 5/7 RTA |
| Group Mobile 9 (GM 9) | Lieutenant Colonel Jules Gaucher | 1/13 DBLE 3/13 DBLE 1/2 REI 3/3 RTA |
| 2nd Airborne Brigade (GAP 2) | Lieutenant Colonel Pierre Langlais | 1 BEP 8 BPC 5 BPVN |
| Artillery | Colonel Charles Piroth | |
| Unit | Commander | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Battalion/13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (1/13 DBLE) | Major de Brinon/Major Robert Coutant | Claudine |
| 3rd Battalion/13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (3/13 DBLE) | Major Paul Pégot | Béatrice |
| 1st Battalion/2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (1/2 REI) | Major Clémençon | Huguette |
| 3rd Battalion/3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3/3 REI) | Major Henri Grand d'Esnon | Isabelle |
| 2nd Battalion/1st Algerian Rifle Regiment (2/1 RTA) | Capitaine Jean Sallot des Noyers; Capitaine Pierre Jeancenelle | Isabelle |
| 3rd Battalion/3rd Algerian Rifle Regiment (3/3 RTA) | Capitaine Jean Garandeau | Dominique |
| 5th Battalion/7th Algerian Rifle Regiment (5/7 RTA) | Major Roland de Mecquenem | Gabrielle |
| 1st Battalion/4th Moroccan Rifle Regiment (1/4 RTM) | Major Jean Nicolas | Eliane |
| 2nd Tai Battalion (BT 2) | Major Maurice Chenel | Eliane |
| 3rd Tai Battalion (BT 3) | Major Léopold Thimonnier | Anne-Marie |
| Unit | Commander |
|---|---|
| 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (1st BEP) | Major Maurice Guiraud |
| 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (2nd BEP) | Major Hubert Liesenfelt |
| 1st Colonial Parachute Battalion (1st BPC) | Capitaine Guy Bazin de Bezon |
| 6th Colonial Parachute Battalion (6th BPC) | Major Marcel Bigeard |
| 8th Shock Parachute Battalion (8th BPC) | Major Pierre Tourret |
| 5th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (5th BPVN) | Capitaine André Botella |
| 2nd Battalion/1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment (II/1RCP) | Major Jean Bréchignac |
| Unit | Commander | Tank | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Squadron/1st Light Horse Regiment (3/1 RCC) | Capitaine Yves Hervouët | M24 Chaffee (x10) | Claudine Isabelle |
| Unit | Commander | - | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Group/4th Colonial Artillery Regiment (II/4 RAC) | Major Guy Knecht | HM2 105mm howitzer (x12) | Dominique |
| 3rd Group/10th Colonial Artillery Regiment (III/10 RAC) | Major Alliou | HM2 105mm howitzer (x12) | Isabelle Claudine |
| 11th Battery/4th Group/4th Colonial Artillery Regiment (11/IV/4 RAC) | Capitaine Déal | HM1 155mm howitzer (x4) | Claudine |
| Platoon/1st Colonial Far East Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group (I GAACEO) | Lieutenant Paul Redon | Quad-50 M2 0.50cal MG (x4) | Epervier |
| 1st Foreign Composite Heavy Mortar Company (1 CMMLE) | Lieutenant René Colcy | 120mm mortar (x8) | Claudine |
| 2nd Foreign Composite Heavy Mortar Company (2 CMMLE) | Lieutenant Fetter | 120mm mortar (x8) | Gabrielle Anne-Marie |
| 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company (1 CEPML) | Lieutenant Paul Turcy | 120mm mortar (x12) | Claudine Dominique |
| Unit | Commander |
|---|---|
| 31st Engineer Battalion (31 BG) | Major André Sudrat/Major Maurice Durieux |
| Unit | Commander |
|---|---|
| 2nd Company/822nd Signals Battalion (2/822 BT) | – |
| 2nd Company/823rd Signals Battalion (2/823 BT) | – |
| 342nd Parachute Signals Company (342 CPT) | – |
| 2nd Platoon/5th Foreign Legion Medium Repair Company (2/5 CRMLE) | Lieutenant Bugeat |
| 3rd Ammunition Resupply Company (detachment) (3 CM) | Sous Lieutenant Léonard |
| 730th Fuel Resupply Company (detachment) (730 CR) | – |
| 712th Traffic Company (712 CCR) | – |
| 3rd General Staff Transport Company (3 CTQG) | – |
| 1st Exploitation Group (Quartermaster Corps) (GEO 1) | – |
| 3rd Marching Battalion/Republican Guard Mobile Gendarmerie (detachment) (3 LM/GRGM) | – |
| 403rd Military Post Office (403 BPM) | – |
| Unit | Commander |
|---|---|
| 29th Mobile Surgical Team (ACM 29) | Major Paul Grauwin |
| 44th Mobile Surgical Team (ACM 44) | Lieutenant Jacques Gindrey |
| 3rd Parachute Surgical Team (ACP 3) | Lieutenant Louis Résillot |
| 5th Parachute Surgical Team (ACP 5) | Capitaine Ernest Hantz |
| 6th Parachute Surgical Team (ACP 6) | Lieutenant Jean Vidal |
| Unit | Commander |
|---|---|
| 8th Commando Group/Mixed Intervention Group (GC 8/GMI) | Capitaine Hébert |
| Operations-Patrols Detachment (DOP) | – |
| Unit | Commander | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Airfield Control Post 'Torri Rouge' (PCIA) | Major Jacques Guérin | |
| Fighter Squadron 1/22 'Saintonge' | Capitaine Claude Payen | F8F-1 Bearcat (x6) |
| 21st Artillery Air Observation Squadron (GAOA 21) | Lieutenant Asselineau | MS-500 Criquet |
| 1st Light Medical Evacuation Company (1 CLES) | – | Sikorsky H-19 S-55 |
| 21/374th Air Force Signals Company (CT 21/374) | – | |
| 195th Air Base Detachment (DB 195) | – | |
| Air Force Marching Company | Capitaine Jean Charnod | |
| Unit | Aircraft | Base |
|---|---|---|
| Fighter Squadron 2/22 'Languedoc' | F8F-1 Bearcat | Haiphong (Cat Bi) |
| Bomber Squadron 1/19 'Gascogne' | B-26 Invader | Haiphong (Cat Bi) |
| Bomber Squadron 1/25 'Tunisie' | B-26 Invader | Haiphong (Cat Bi) |
| Transport Squadron 2/62 'Franche-Comté' | Dakota DC-3 | Hanoi (Bach Mai Airfield) |
| Transport Squadron 2/63 'Sénégal' | Dakota DC-3 | Hanoi (Gia Lam) |
| Transport Squadron 1/64 'Béarn' | Dakota DC-3 | Hanoi (Gia Lam) |
| Transport Squadron 2/64 'Anjou' | Dakota DC-3 | Hanoi (Bach Mai) |
| 23rd Artillery Air Observation Squadron (GAOA 23) | MS-500 Criquet | Muong Sai |
| 80th Overseas Reconnaissance Squadron (EROM 80) | RF-8F Bearcat (reco) B-26C Invader (reco) | Hanoi (Bach Mai) |
| 52nd Air Liaison Squadron (ELA 52) | Sikorsky H-19 S-55 | Biên Hòa |
| 53rd Air Liaison Squadron (ELA 53) | Sikorsky H-19 S-55 | Hanoi (Gia Lam) |
| Unit | Aircraft | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Carrier Attack Squadron (3F) | SB2C-5 Helldiver | Carrier Arromanches (Tourane) Hanoi (Bach Mai) |
| 11th Carrier Fighter Squadron (11F) | F6F-5 Hellcat | Carrier Arromanches (Tourane) Hai Phong (Cat Bi) |
| 14th Carrier Fighter Squadron (14F) | F4U-7 Corsair AU-1 Corsair | Carrier Bois Belleau (Halong Bay) Hanoi (Bach Mai) |
| 28th Bomber Squadron (28F) | PB4Y Privateer | Hai Phong (Cat Bi) |
| Unit | Aircraft | Base | Pilots |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Air Transport (CAT) | Dakota DC-3 C-119 Flying Boxcar | Hai Phong (Cat Bi) | 37 |
| Commander | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam People's Army (VPA) | General Võ Nguyên Giáp | Muong Phang |
| Unit | Commander | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Division 304(less) Title: Vinh Quang (Glory) Codename: 'Nam Định' | Commissar Le Chuong Chief of Staff: Nam Long | |
| Infantry regiment 9 | Tran Thanh Tu | Infantry battalions 353, 375, 400 |
| Infantry regiment 57 | Nguyen Can | Infantry battalions 265, 346, 418 |
| Division 308 Title: Quan Tien Phong (Vanguard) Codename: 'Việt Bắc' | Colonel Vuong Thua Vu Commissar Song Hao | |
| Infantry regiment 36 Title: Bac Bac Alias: Sa Pa | Pham Hong Son | Infantry battalions 80, 84, 89 |
| Infantry regiment 88 Title: Tu Vu Alias: Tam Dao | Nam Ha | Infantry battalions 22, 29, 322 |
| Infantry regiment 102 Title: Thu Do (Capital) Alias: Ba Vi | Nguyen Hung Sinh | Infantry battalions 18, 59, 79 |
| Division 312 Title: Chien Thang (Victory) Codename: 'Bến Tre' | Colonel Lê Trọng Tấn Commissar Tran Do | |
| Infantry regiment 141 Title: Ba Vi | Quang Tuyen | Infantry battalions 11, 16, 428 |
| Infantry regiment 165 Title: Lao Ha Yen, Thanh Dong Bien Gioi Alias: Dong Trieu | Le Thuy | Infantry battalions 115, 542, 564 |
| Infantry regiment 209 Title: Song Lo | Hoang Cam | Infantry battalions 130, 154, 166 |
| Division 316 Alias: Biên Hòa | Colonel Le Quang Ba Commissar Chu Huy Man | |
| Infantry regiment 98 | Vu Lang | Infantry battalions 215, 439, 938 |
| Infantry regiment 174 Title: Cao Bac Lang Alias: Sóc Trăng | Nguyễn Hữu An | Infantry battalions 249, 251, 255 |
| Infantry regiment 176 | Infantry battalions 888, 910, 999 |
| Unit | Commander | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Artillery-Engineer Division 351 Alias:Long Chau | Dao Van Truong Commissar Pham Ngoc Mau | |
| Artillery Regiment 45 Title:Tat Thang (Inevitable Victory) | Nguyen Huu My | 24 M101 105mm howitzers 632nd artillery battalion (12 M101 105mm howitzers) 954th artillery battalion (12 M101 105mm howitzers) |
| Artillery Regiment 675 Title:Anh Dung (Valiant) | Doan Tue | 20 Type-41 75mm mountain guns 16 M1938 120mm mortars 175th mountain gun battalion 275th mountain gun battalion 83rd mortar battalion |
| AAA Regiment 367 (less) | Le Van Tri | 2 AAA battalions (12 M1939 37mm AA guns each) |
| Heavy Weapon Regiment 237 | Mortar battalion 413(54 M-37 82mm mortars) H6 rocket battalion (12 Chinese six-barrel 75mm H6 rocket launchers) 75mm recoilless gun battalion | |
| Engineer Regiment 151 | Pham Hoang |
The Battle of Mạo Khê, occurring from March 23 to March 28, 1951, was a significant engagement in the First Indochina War between the French Union and the Việt Minh. The French Union forces, led by World War II hero Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, inflicted a defeat on Việt Minh forces, which were commanded by General Võ Nguyên Giáp. The French Union victory, however, was not decisive and the Việt Minh would attack again shortly afterwards.
Nguyễn Hữu An was a general in the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN).
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2nd Corps or Hương Giang Corps was a regular army corps of the Vietnam People's Army. First organised in 1974 during the Vietnam War, 2nd Corps had a major role in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign that ended the war. Before disbanded on 21 November 2023, the corps was stationed in Lạng Giang District, Bắc Giang.
3rd Corps or Tây Nguyên Corps is one of the three regular army corps of the Vietnam People's Army. First organised in 1975 during the Vietnam War, 3rd Corps had a major role in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign and the Cambodian–Vietnamese War. Today the corps is stationed in Pleiku, Gia Lai.
4th Corps or Cửu Long Corps is one of the three regular army corps of the People's Army of Vietnam. First organized in 1974 during the Vietnam War, 4th Corps had a major role in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign and the Cambodian–Vietnamese War. Today the corps is stationed in Dĩ An, Bình Dương.
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The 4th Military Region of Vietnam People's Army, is directly under the Ministry of Defence of Vietnam, tasked to organise, build, manage and command armed forces defending the North Central Vietnam. The predecessor, 4th War Zone was established by the order of Ho Chi Minh on 15 October 1945, and this day has become the traditional day of the Military Zone. On 3 June 1957, Ho Chi Minh signed the ordinance 17/SL to establish 4th Military Zones on the basis of 4th Joint Zone, simultaneously with other military zones: the North Vietnamese, North West, North East, Left Bank, Right Bank.
The 5th Military Region of Vietnam People's Army, is directly under the Ministry of Defence of Vietnam, tasked to organise, build, manage and command armed forces defending the South Central Vietnam include the Tây Nguyên and southern central coastal provinces.
The 7th Military Region of Vietnam People's Army, is directly under the Ministry of Defence of Vietnam, tasked to organise, build, manage and command armed forces defending the South East Vietnam.
The 9th Military Region of Vietnam People's Army, is directly under the Ministry of Defence of Vietnam, tasked to organise, build, manage and command armed forces defending the Mekong Delta.
Mường Pồn is a commune (xã) and village of the Điện Biên District of Điện Biên Province, northwestern Vietnam. Less than 4 kilometres from the Lao border, it lies along National Route 12, north by road from Dien Bien Phu.
The 1st Central Committee of the Indochinese Communist Party was in session from 1935 to 1951.
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Lê Chất, also known as Lê Văn Chất (黎文質), Lê Tông Chất (黎宗質) or Lê Công Chất (黎公質), was a general of Tây Sơn dynasty. Later he became a general of Nguyễn dynasty.
Phạm Thanh Tâm was a Vietnamese journalist and war artist, who used the pen name Huỳnh Biếc. His career spanned the First Indochina War as a Việt Minh soldier participating in the resistance against French colonialism, as well as the Second Indochina War as a member of the People's Army of Vietnam against South Vietnam and the United States.
The 3rd Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Vietnam (WPV) was elected at the 3rd WPV National Congress. It elected the 3rd Politburo and the 3rd Secretariat.
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations .(December 2014) |