Dien Bien Phu (1992)

[sksvlad]

An excellent French movie covering the final decisive battle between French colonial forces and Viet Minh https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104105/. Awesome battle sequiences, but the film also shows civilian life in French IndoChina, very nostalgic. This is a French "Apocalypse Now".

 

[Dreamk]

Dien Bien Phu was the classic example of the French Strategic mind - a very good idea, very billant and attractive on the paper....just forgetting the importance of logistics supply. Even the C-117 furnished in emergency by the US - and flown by mercenaries - were not enough to fill the gap as the whole logistics supply concept of the operation was botched.
The same thing caused the distaster of the Napoleonic campaign in Russia in 1812 and the fall of Napoleon.
It is what happens when you overestimate your real capacities.
Apparently this did not end with Dien Bien Phu - in their operations in Mali these last years, the French discovered very fast.... that they had the same problem and that the Transall equipped Amree de l'Air was once again unable to fullfill its suply mission - they had to get help from the US (once again) who furnished them with C-130 Hercules.