Why France Lost Dien Bien Phu: video worksheets, differentiated.

A very detailed and accessible analysis of France’s attempts consolidate their position before peace negotiations. Using archive footage and a variety of primary sources (all cited fully), this engaging film covers: 1953 stalemate; French hopes that Dien Bien Phu will be decisive. Navarre arrives. Korean War ends: more Chinese support for VM. Fears of Communism. Paratroops invade Dien Bien Phu, site fortified. The site’s many flaws. VM initial attack. Beatrice and Gabrielle overrun. Col. Piroth’s suicide. Parachute re-supply. Geneviève de Galard. Operations Condor, Albatross, and Vulture compared. Dulles and Nixon support direct US intervention; Ridgeway and LBJ less keen. No international coalition. The Battle of the Five Hills. VM siege tactics. Monsoon flooding. Final defeat for France. Losses on all sides. Vietnam divided on 17th parallel. A disappointing settlement for Viet Minh. USA supports South Vietnam.

Find the film on YouTube by searching the Real Time History Channel for “Why France Lost The Battle of Dien Bien Phu 1954 (4K Documentary)”. My link omits a 2-min trailer at the end, the film will stop straight after my sheet’s final question if you use my embedded link.

16 questions for the 20-min film (not inc. the omitted 2-min trailer). Differentiated! Both versions look very similar, but “B” version has subtle clues. Questions right up to the end (of my embedded link), no slack time! Excellent subtitles, scripted, not auto-generated. Answer sheet. Very easy to mark. .doc & .pdf for all files.

And while you’re at it, have a look at Vietnam War Bingo here.
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12762137