vietnam

[dave01]

is it true the french commander took his female secretary to dien bien phu?

[mike b]

I seem to remember (ISTR??) that the various outposts were named after his several mistresses. Have got it in a book somewhere...

[Peter Pedant]

There currentlyquite a good UKTV history prog on the French losing Dien Bien Phu but doesnt mention the mistress

One air strip was called Eliane
Perhaps calling zem after les girls, ze Franch expected zem to fall !

The commander was de Castries wizz un accent grave on ze final e
I have often wondered 'ow zay said eet.
He was a dashing cavalry commander
well he dashed off to prison camp soon after and I cant find out what happened later - became defence minister, committed hara kiri or what....

[ScreaminTree]

Wasn't it de Lattres de Tassigny...?

[Drusilla1S]

The main French garrison in the valley at Dien Bien Phu was supported by a number of strongholds on different ridges. These strongholds were named after the commander's mistresses, apparently.