aus dem vorwort: the states of indochina - north vietnam (bac bo, or tonking), central vietnam (trung bo, or annam), south vietnam (nam bo, or cochinchina), cambodia and laos - had been french colonies or protectorates since the 19th century. in the 1930s communist-led risings in tonking and annam had been bloodily suppressed, many insurgent leaders fleeing into china; in 1940 they returned to north-east tonking, and began to build up their armed strength from almost nothing. they made a late and insignificant show of resistance to the japanese, which nevertheless established their credentials with the american oss and earned some us arms and training.
under the vichy regime the french garrison had to tolerate the installation of japanese bases. in march 1945 the japanese interned all french troops and officials, butchering those who resisted; the survivors fought their way out into nationalist china, and the japanese turned over civil government to local elements, including the figurehead emperor of annam, bao dai. the japanese surrender in august 1945 was taken by nationalist chinese troops in the north and british/indian division in the south; neither was able to interfere with a communist programme of taking over "grass roots" power - and japanese weapons. it would be october 1945 before french troops returned to saigon, and march 1946 before the first reached hanoi. this priceless power vacuum allowed the comintern veteran ho chi minh to establish a strong revolutionary organisation at first in tonkin, and later throughout vietnam.

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