Osprey Essential Histories 038 - Vietnam War 1956-1975

In this fully illustrated introduction, leading Vietnam War historian
Dr Andrew Wiest provides a concise overview of America's most divisive
war.

America entered the Vietnam War certain of its
Cold War doctrines and convinced of its moral mission to save the world
from the advance of communism. However, the war was not at all what the
United States expected. Dr Andrew Wiest examines how, outnumbered and
outgunned, the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces resorted to a
guerrilla war based on the theories of Mao Zedong of China, while the US
responded with firepower and overwhelming force. Drawing on the latest
research for this new edition, Wiest examines the brutal and prolonged
resultant conflict, and how its consequences would change America
forever, leaving the country battered and unsure as it sought to face
the challenges of the final acts of the Cold War. As for Vietnam, the
conflict would continue long after the US had exited its military
adventure in Southeast Asia.
Updated and revised, with
full-colour maps and new images throughout, this is an accessible
introduction to the most important event of the “American Century.”