Mainland Southeast Asia

Indochina, or French Indochina was a federation of French colonies and protectorates in south-east Asia. It consisted of Cochin China, Tonkin, Annam (all of which now form Vietnam), Laos and Cambodia. Indochina was formed in 1887 of these states, with the exception of Laos, which was added only in 1893. The federation lasted until 1954. The capital of Indochina was Hanoi. The title of There were a series of puppet Emperors.

During WW2 in September 1940, Vichy France (which had just submitted to Nazi Germany) granted Japan's demands for military access to Tonkin. Immediately this allowed Japan better access to China in the Sino-Japanese War, against the forces of Chiang Kai-shek. But it was also part of Japan's strategy of domination of the Pacific, helped greatly by the success of its ally Germany in defeating Pacific powers the Netherlands and France. The Japanese kept the French bureaucracy and leadership in place to run Indochina.

On March 9, 1945 with France firmly under Allied domination, Germany in retreat, and the USA ascendant in the Pacific, Japan decided to take complete control of Indochina. The Japanese kept power until the news of their surrender came though in August, after the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs.

After the war France attempted to reassert itself in the region, but came into conflict with the Viet Minh, communist Vietnamese nationalists under French-educated Ho Chi Minh. During WW2 the USA had supported the Viet Minh in resistance against the Japanese; the group was in control of the country apart from the cities since the French gave way in March 1945. After persuading Emperor Bao Dai to abdicate in his favour, on September 2, 1945 Ho -- as president -- declared independence for the "Democratic Republic of Vietnam". But before the end of September, a force of British, French and Indians, who also pressed captured Japanese into service, restored French control. Bitter fighting ensued. In 1950 Ho again declared an independent Democratic Republic of Vietnam, which was recognized by the fellow communist governments of China and the Soviet Union.

Fighting lasted until March 1954, when the Viet Minh won the decisive victory against French forces at the gruelling Battle of Dien Bien Phu. This led to the partition of Vietnam into North, under Viet Minh control, and South, called the "Republic of Vietnam", which had the support of the USA, Great Britain, and France. The events of 1954 also marked the end of French involvement in the region, and the beginnings of serious American commitment to South Vietnam which was to lead to the Vietnam War.

Laos and Cambodia also became independent in 1954, but were both drawn into the Vietnam War.