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Famine in northern Vietnam during the first half 1945 is estimated to claim the
lives of more than a million people. Capitalizing on the indifferent response to
the crisis by the Japanese, and their French puppet government, the
Viet Minh urges citizens to raid rice warehouses and gains substantial popular
support as a result.
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March
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9th
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Japanese stage a coup de force, attacking French garrisons and interning the administration
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11th
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Japanese force Bao Dai, Emperor
of Annam, to denounce the French protectorate and to proclaim the independence of
his country
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April
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12th
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Vice President Harry Truman becomes President as a result of Franklin Roosevelt's
sudden death.
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July
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17th
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(to Aug 2nd) Allied Chiefs of Staff at the Potsdam Conference decide
to temporarily partition Vietnam at the 16th parallel (Da Nang) for the purposes
of operational convenience.
It is agreed that British forces will take the surrender of Japanese forces in Saigon
for the southern half of Indochina, whilst Japanese troops in the northern half
will surrender to the Chinese
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August
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6th
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U.S. drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima
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9th
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American forces drop an atomic bomb on Nagasaki
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13th
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The Central Committee of the Indochinese Communist Party (ICP) convenes in Tan Trao
and decides to lead the population in a general uprising to capitalize on the power
vacuum and seize political control of the country
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15th
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Surrender of Japan (V-J Day)
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16th
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The Viet Minh National Congress meets in Tan Trao and approves the Central Committee’s
order for a general uprising. It also elects the National Liberation Committee of
Vietnam to serve as a provisional government with
Ho Chi Minh as president
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20th
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Viet Minh forces seize power in Hanoi
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22nd
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The Viet Minh organise a celebration of national independence in Saigon
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25th
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Emperor Bao Dai abdicates under pressure from the Viet Minh. He accepts the position
of Supreme Advisor to the provisional DRV government.
The Committee of the South is formed to govern Saigon. Six of the committee's nine
members are Viet Minh
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28th
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British General Douglas Gracey appointed Commander Allied Forces for the occupation
of French Indochina, south of latitude 16 degrees north and head of the Army Control
Commission for French Indochina.
Gracey is to command all French forces in his area until the Commander-in-Chief,
Allied Land Forces, South East Asia, decides that the French can set up an independent
command. His mission is to:
- Disarm all Japanese forces
- Maintain law and order
- Protect and evacuate Allied prisoners of war
- Liberate Allied territory
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September
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2nd
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Japanese officials sign an unconditional surrender in Tokyo Bay
Ho Chi Minh declares the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV)
In Hanoi
Demonstrations take place on the streets of Saigon
French President General De Gaulle appoints Thierry d'Argenlieu as High-Commissioner
in Indochina
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9th
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Chinese troops enter Hanoi to disarm Japanese troops north of the 16th parallel
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12th
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The first allied troops, Indian Gurkhas, arrive in Saigon from Rangoon
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13th
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General Douglas Gracey, Commander Allied Land Forces and GOC 20th Indian Division,
arrives in Saigon to begin disarming Japanese troops south of the 16th parallel
and finds widespread anarchy
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19th
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Gracey prohibits publication of Saigon newspapers, believing they were stirring
up trouble
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21st
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In an effort to restore public order Gracey issues the following proclamation:
- Public meetings and the carrying of arms is prohibited
- Looters will be summarily shot
- A curfew will be imposed between 9:30pm and 5:30am
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22nd
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British forces in Saigon release and rearm French troops that had been initially
interned by the Japanese on March 9th
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23rd
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In the early hours of the morning the newly freed French forces overthrow the local
DRV government and declare French authority restored in Cochin-China
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24th
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French troops ordered back to barracks, but Saigon power station is attacked in
Annamite reprisals
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25th
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Massacre in the Tan Dinh suburb of Saigon: Approximately 300 French men, women and
children are abducted and half of them are killed.
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26th
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American OSS chief, Major Peter Dewey, attacked and killed in Saigon after being
mistaken for a Frenchman
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October
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2nd
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General Gracey persuades French Commissioner Cedile to negotiate a cease-fire with
the Viet Minh
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5th
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General Leclerc, Commander-in-Chief of the French Expeditionary Corps, arrives in
Saigon
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9th
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British recognize the French Civil Administration as the sole authority in Indochina
south of the 16th parallel
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November
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2nd
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The ICP is dissolved by the Viet Minh leadership and replaced by Association for
the study of Karl Marx
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