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August RevolutionOn August 19, 1945, several citizens of Hanoi, under the direction of Vietnamese Communist forces led by Ho Chi Minh began the August Revolution. This would be a first step toward the liberation, near-destruction, and ultimate revitalisation of Vietnam. Prior to the colonisation of Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia), Southeast Asia had been ruled by means of a feudal order which prevented the majority of citizens from exercising political influence and control. The removal of this feudal order and the ousting of imperialist nations which later attempted to determine Vietnam's destiny began with the August Revolution. It was not a spontaneous popular uprising (see Revolution). Ho Chi Minh was well-educated in France, and had learned irregular warfare by serving with the Viet Minh. Supported and supplied by the United States of America, the Viet Minh were useful American assets against the Japanese in World War II. On March 9, 1945, the Japanese overthrew the Vichy French Decoux Government. They reinstated Bao Dai as Emperor (the polygamous Bao was first crowned Emperor of Vietnam in 1925, although a puppet to the French.) On April 30, 1945, the cooperation between American officials and the Vietnamese Communists was demonstrated when Major Archimedes Patti, of the US Office of Strategic Services, met with Ho and received a message of warmth and solidarity from Ho, and increased shipments of arms and instructors. On August 14, 1945, the Japanese surrendered their holdings in Vietnam. With the French overthrown by the Japanese earlier in the year, a power vacuum was left. This opportunity would not be missed by Ho. He called for a national uprising which began five days later, and became known as the August Revolution. The French would not respond effectively for over a month. On August 25, 1945, Bao Dai was persuaded to abdicate in favour of Ho and the Viet Minh. After the August Revolution, Ho declared the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945). This was accomplished at the urging, and with the assistance of his American sponsors. Within two months, however, the French returned troops to Vietnam, and the DRV was abandoned by the Americans. Very soon, despite Ho's attempts to balance the French threat against the threat of Chinese occupation with mutual agreements with the French, the latter would instigate war with the Republic, and reinstall Bao Dai as leader of a French-run government. The First Indochina War began shortly afterward. See also: Vietnam War Revolution, August
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