Victory at Any Cost - The Genius of Viet Nam's Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap

Senior General Vo Nguyen Giap was the military leader of the Communist forces during the war against the Japanese, the French and later the Americans in the Viet Nam War. Cunning, determined, a master of logistics and willing to shed the blood of his countrymen, he defeated the French at Dien Bien Phu, one of the great battles of history. Twenty-one years later, the United States suffered an equally bitter loss with the fall of Saigon. Despite his historical importance, Giap has long been shrouded in mystery. His life story has been a patchwork of myth and legend. Author Cecil Currey spent five years examining every aspect of Giap's life, even spending long hours interviewing Giap himself. On other occasions, Giap answered questions smuggled into Hanoi. This volume assesses the strengths and weaknesses of this victorious general who began with no troops, no equipment and no formal training.