Book Review: The Last Valley

The Last Valley tells the epic story of the siege of Dien Bien Phu and Martin Windrows book deserves to become the definitive telling of that story. The author has also written the Ospey publication on the French Indo-China war so it will come as no surprise that this book is a boon to wargamers. It has excellent maps, full orders of battle and unit TOE, logistic data and details of weapon performance.

The dramatic story of the 55 day battle is told in a gripping style paying tribute to the bravery of both sides. It also puts the siege and the French attempt to hold onto its colonies into the overall context of the developing cold war that set the scene for the subsequent, tragic American involvement.

Although an academic work it is easy to read and well structured for anyone not familiar to the conflict with clear references to maps and footnotes that are definitely worth reading.

I cannot recommend this book too highly for anyone remotely interested in this period.

The Last Valley. Dien Bien Phu and the French defeat in Vietnam. By Martin Windrow. Cassell Military Paperbacks. ISBN 13 978-0-3043-6692-7. 734 pages and 21 Maps

Review submitted by Geoff Fabron

Wargaming

Geoff also wrote;

I'm planning to 'refight' Dien Bien Phu in 6mm scale using a modified Spearhead system. I have had a couple of play tests of Viet Min attacks on French strong points but I am still working on a set of 'campaign' rules to join the various phases of the battle and provide players with various strategic choices like when & where to launch assault/counter attacks, bringing in reinforcements, supplies etc.

I have most of the kit I need. Using US WW2 paratroopers by Adler for French Colonial forces and GHQ NVA for the Viet Minh. GHQ for the French M24 tanks and artillery plus some figures from Irregular Miniature for Recoiless Rifles and mortars (plus more Viet Minh - need a lot of the blighters!)

I've found the French Indo China war quite a interesting period especially in the light of the subsequent US involvement. Have not really played the 2nd war that much - tend to find most games are skirmish level and I prefer bigger (but will play anything if given the opportunity). The Last Valley really got my imagination and prompted me to get into it - also read 'Street without Joy' by Bernard Fall - excellent.

I have played some board games on the US Vietnam War - especially 'No Drums, No Trumpets' published by 3W in their Wargamer magazine back in the 1980's. Found this game to be playable at the strategic/operational level (basically regt/Div).