Conclusion
The atrocities committed to the innocent Vietnamese during the Vietnam War are disgustingly horrifying. The amount of murder, torture, rape going on behind the scenes is abounding. The homes of millions of Vietnamese were interrupted the war, and then with the numerous number of chemical bombs being thrown on their home land destroying their food corps, their homes, their families and friends.
Over 2 million Vietnamese were killed, 5.3 million were injured and 10 million became refugees according to the US government figures. Almost all innocent Vietnamese were negatively affected by the Vietnam War and the atrocities the US soldiers have committed.
The atrocities that were committed were unbelievably inhumane and brutal. Some lost their homes, lost their jobs, lost their brothers and sisters, lost their husbands and lost their children. Vietnamese were defined as “Vietcong” and “gooks” to be ruthlessly killed because US soldiers were brainwashed into thinking that Vietnamese were not real humans, and thus, such atrocities were possible to commit. Even if they survived the US soldiers bombing their homes with poisons or managed to be not kidnapped or murdered, they had to risk their lives as boat people and had to go where the waves took them to.
US soldiers kidnapped, raped, and murdered Vietnamese without any guilt or remorse, and even today, some think that as a proud achievement and takes pride in the atrocities they committed. On the bright side, some do regret what they have done and realize how cruel and disgusting they were to the same human beings. Especially when they were criticized globally by different people from different countries US military started to fade out their brutal atrocities. Therefore, the international reaction to the atrocities committed by US soldiers took a great part in stopping the Vietnam War.
The Vietnam War had a massive significant role to New Zealand citizens. With majority of New Zealand objecting the Vietnam War by doing huge marches and street protests, it clearly showed that the atrocities committed by the US soliders showed that the New Zealand cared about the innocent Vietnamese being killed and being treated inhumanely. Also with New Zealand government providing medical assistance in the Vietnam War to injured civilians showed that New Zealand had a significant role in the Vietnam War and helping the civilians.New Zealand medical team made a valuable contribution to the war effort and the government also, by providing the refugees with new homes in New Zealand alongside other countries such as Australia.
Over 2 million Vietnamese were killed, 5.3 million were injured and 10 million became refugees according to the US government figures. Almost all innocent Vietnamese were negatively affected by the Vietnam War and the atrocities the US soldiers have committed.
The atrocities that were committed were unbelievably inhumane and brutal. Some lost their homes, lost their jobs, lost their brothers and sisters, lost their husbands and lost their children. Vietnamese were defined as “Vietcong” and “gooks” to be ruthlessly killed because US soldiers were brainwashed into thinking that Vietnamese were not real humans, and thus, such atrocities were possible to commit. Even if they survived the US soldiers bombing their homes with poisons or managed to be not kidnapped or murdered, they had to risk their lives as boat people and had to go where the waves took them to.
US soldiers kidnapped, raped, and murdered Vietnamese without any guilt or remorse, and even today, some think that as a proud achievement and takes pride in the atrocities they committed. On the bright side, some do regret what they have done and realize how cruel and disgusting they were to the same human beings. Especially when they were criticized globally by different people from different countries US military started to fade out their brutal atrocities. Therefore, the international reaction to the atrocities committed by US soldiers took a great part in stopping the Vietnam War.
The Vietnam War had a massive significant role to New Zealand citizens. With majority of New Zealand objecting the Vietnam War by doing huge marches and street protests, it clearly showed that the atrocities committed by the US soliders showed that the New Zealand cared about the innocent Vietnamese being killed and being treated inhumanely. Also with New Zealand government providing medical assistance in the Vietnam War to injured civilians showed that New Zealand had a significant role in the Vietnam War and helping the civilians.New Zealand medical team made a valuable contribution to the war effort and the government also, by providing the refugees with new homes in New Zealand alongside other countries such as Australia.
The Significance to New Zealand
As the United States became involved in the Vietnam War, New Zealand and other American allies were pressured by the United States to provide a combat assistance. New Zealand signed an ANZUS (Australian New Zealand United States) alliance agreement with the US. The ANZUS alliance was an agreement between Australia and New Zealand, and New Zealand with the United States to cooperate and defend the Pacific Ocean area together. Keith Holyoake, the Prime minister at that time hesistated but at the end he agreed to send small assistance to US military involvement in the Vietnam War because if New Zealand did not given its support to America, it's chance of being attack by other countries increased. New Zealand needed superior countries like US to be on their side to keep its country safe.
New Zealand sent their first military assistance in June 1964 and did not pull out until December 1972 from the Vietnam War. Because New Zealand wanted to be less involved in the Vietnam war, most New Zealanders served as a surgical civilian team providing medical assistance. A total of 3,500 New Zealanders served in the Vietnam war, although it was a small number compared to other countries, but to a small country like New Zealand it was a huge involvement. Also, the Vietnam War was the first war New Zealand did not fight alongside Britian, New Zealand as a country itself showed its independence. Unlike the previous wars, it was also the first war where the New Zealand army was involved, rather than having citizens signing up for war.
The Vietnam War had a massive significant role to New Zealand citizens. With majority of New Zealand objecting the Vietnam War by doing huge marches and street protests, it clearly showed that the atrocities committed by the US soliders upset the citizens of New Zealand. The Vietnam War upset and horrified the entire New Zealand with the photographs of the atrocities being published by reporters. Many New Zealanders were shocked at the unexpected cruel atrocities that were seen through media. By 1971, the amount of protestors increased to 35,000 New Zealanders protesting against the war. Thousands marched down the streets in New Zealand This had a significant impact on New Zealand.
Not only the citizens of New Zealand but also it had a huge impact on the New Zealand politics and the politicians stance and policies. National party won both of the elections in 1966 and 1969 because Vietnam war had high levels of support amongst the citizens of New Zealand. However, as the days were gone by more and more New Zealanders turned against the Vietnam War, and as a consequence majority of the nation shifted to anti-Vietnam War. The alliance policies, Vietnam war stance were started to be questioned by the higher educated citizens and the anti-war protestors. And thus, because of the dramatic change in New Zealand, the politicians had to change their stance to "Anti-Vietnam War" to get the votes. In 1972, the Labour Party prompt withdrawal of the remaining training teams in the Vietnam War, and they were elected.
The inhumane atrocities the US soldiers ruthlessly committed were exposed to public and was seen by the world, including New Zealand. The torture, rape, murder the US soldiers committed was beyond typical humans morals and beliefs, and when it was exposed through to the New Zealand, countless amount of people were shocked and terrified. It not only changed the way the New Zealanders thought about the Vietnam war, but also it motivated thousands of New Zealander to stand up and fight against the atrocities that was happening in Vietnam. And this had a significant impact, even resulting the political stance of New Zealand to change. Furthermore, after the war, the New Zealand and the government showed their support to Vietnamese by accepting the Vietnamese boat people into New Zealand from 1975 and porviding them with new homes and giving them medical assistance. The majority of the Vietnamese boat people arrived in New Zealand, and the number of boat people migrating in New Zealand has constantly decreased after the years because the living conditions has improved in Vietnam. Therefore, the impact the Vietnam War had on New Zealand is significant.
New Zealand sent their first military assistance in June 1964 and did not pull out until December 1972 from the Vietnam War. Because New Zealand wanted to be less involved in the Vietnam war, most New Zealanders served as a surgical civilian team providing medical assistance. A total of 3,500 New Zealanders served in the Vietnam war, although it was a small number compared to other countries, but to a small country like New Zealand it was a huge involvement. Also, the Vietnam War was the first war New Zealand did not fight alongside Britian, New Zealand as a country itself showed its independence. Unlike the previous wars, it was also the first war where the New Zealand army was involved, rather than having citizens signing up for war.
The Vietnam War had a massive significant role to New Zealand citizens. With majority of New Zealand objecting the Vietnam War by doing huge marches and street protests, it clearly showed that the atrocities committed by the US soliders upset the citizens of New Zealand. The Vietnam War upset and horrified the entire New Zealand with the photographs of the atrocities being published by reporters. Many New Zealanders were shocked at the unexpected cruel atrocities that were seen through media. By 1971, the amount of protestors increased to 35,000 New Zealanders protesting against the war. Thousands marched down the streets in New Zealand This had a significant impact on New Zealand.
Not only the citizens of New Zealand but also it had a huge impact on the New Zealand politics and the politicians stance and policies. National party won both of the elections in 1966 and 1969 because Vietnam war had high levels of support amongst the citizens of New Zealand. However, as the days were gone by more and more New Zealanders turned against the Vietnam War, and as a consequence majority of the nation shifted to anti-Vietnam War. The alliance policies, Vietnam war stance were started to be questioned by the higher educated citizens and the anti-war protestors. And thus, because of the dramatic change in New Zealand, the politicians had to change their stance to "Anti-Vietnam War" to get the votes. In 1972, the Labour Party prompt withdrawal of the remaining training teams in the Vietnam War, and they were elected.
The inhumane atrocities the US soldiers ruthlessly committed were exposed to public and was seen by the world, including New Zealand. The torture, rape, murder the US soldiers committed was beyond typical humans morals and beliefs, and when it was exposed through to the New Zealand, countless amount of people were shocked and terrified. It not only changed the way the New Zealanders thought about the Vietnam war, but also it motivated thousands of New Zealander to stand up and fight against the atrocities that was happening in Vietnam. And this had a significant impact, even resulting the political stance of New Zealand to change. Furthermore, after the war, the New Zealand and the government showed their support to Vietnamese by accepting the Vietnamese boat people into New Zealand from 1975 and porviding them with new homes and giving them medical assistance. The majority of the Vietnamese boat people arrived in New Zealand, and the number of boat people migrating in New Zealand has constantly decreased after the years because the living conditions has improved in Vietnam. Therefore, the impact the Vietnam War had on New Zealand is significant.