WEAPONS OF THE VIET MINH
 

It is difficult to make a list of witch weapons the Viet Minh used during the Indochina war. They used a vast arsenal, consisting of what they were able to acquire. So in order to find out witch weapons that they used, one must simply ask – witch weapons were possible to acquire in Indochina after World War two.

If you look at it in a chronologic, historical order:

1. French Weapons

Firearms started to appear in Indochina as colonization of the Far East began by European countries. Since Indochina was French territory the majority of the firearms here were French made. Probably a lot of French weapons went “missing” or were conquered by rebels or other anti-French elements. The first rifles during the 19^th century were frontloaded. Later bolt action rifles, of the Lebel family, were used by the French army from the end of the 19^th century until after World War One. Before World War Two the colonial arsenals were modernized.

2. Japanese Weapons

During World War Two, Indochina was occupied by Japan. Many Japanese weapons were conquered by the Viet Minh or taken from the Japanese after surrendering in 1945.

4. American Weapons

During World War Two, the Americans supported the Viet Minh, both by training and by supply of weapons and battlefield material so that the Viet Minh could fight the Japanese controlling Indochina. Viet Minh actions varied from sabotage raids against the Japanese to securing shot down allied pilots.

When conflict started to erupt between the Viet Minh and the French, the Viet Minh had a lot of American, British and Japanese weapons and material together with American training and experience from fighting the Japanese.

4. Communistic China

In 1949 there was a “revolution of the people” in China, turning the country from a nationalistic state into a communistic. The Viet Minh established training camps on the Chinese side of the Vietnamese-Chinese border were the Viet-Minh could practice undisturbed from the French. They were also given material from the Chinese.

5. Soviet and Eastern block Weapons
Via China, the Viet Minh were able to acquire Soviet and other eastern block countrys arms.

6. French Weapons (again)

Last but not least were the French weapons acquired from retreating or defeated French forces. From the French the Viet Minh were able to acquire heavy weapons, such as mortars and artillery.

The list bellow focuses on the most common and a few interesting weapons used by the Viet Minh. Also check out the FRENCH WEAPONS to see other weapons that could have been used by the Viet Minh.

Pistols

SUB MACHINE GUNS

RIFLES

 Thouvenin

 Mosin

 Mosin

 SVT 40

 SKS

MACHINE GUNS

French Guns - Klick here

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