Who ruled Vietnam before the Second World War?

Before the Second World War, Vietnam was under the colonial rule of France. The French colonial period in Vietnam began in the mid-19th century and continued until the mid-20th century. Vietnam was part of French Indochina, which also included Laos and Cambodia. The French colonial administration aimed to exploit the resources of the region and to extend French influence in Southeast Asia. The French established a system of direct rule and indirect control, which involved the appointment of French officials to oversee the administration of the country. They also implemented policies to promote French culture and language, and to suppress Vietnamese culture and traditions. The French colonial rule was characterized by economic exploitation, forced labor, and the suppression of Vietnamese nationalism. Despite the harsh conditions, the Vietnamese people resisted French rule in various ways. There were numerous uprisings and rebellions against French authority throughout the colonial period. The most significant of these was the Yên Bái mutiny in 1930, which was a major rebellion against French rule led by the Vietnamese nationalist and communist forces. During the Second World War, Vietnam was occupied by Japan, which had invaded the country in 1940. The Japanese occupation was brutal and led to widespread suffering among the Vietnamese people. However, it also created an opportunity for the Vietnamese nationalist and communist forces to organize and prepare for a struggle for independence. After the end of the Second World War, the situation in Vietnam changed dramatically. In 1945, following the surrender of Japan, Ho Chi Minh declared the independence of Vietnam and established the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV). However, the French refused to recognize the DRV and sought to reassert their control over the country. This led to a conflict known as the First Indochina War, which lasted from 1946 to 1954. The First Indochina War was a long and bloody conflict that pitted the Vietnamese nationalist forces, led primarily by the Vietnamese Communists, against the French colonial forces. The Vietnamese forces were able to use guerrilla warfare tactics and the support of the local population to fight against the better-equipped French forces. The war culminated in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, where the Vietnamese forces, led by General Võ Nguyên Giáp, defeated the French. The defeat at Dien Bien Phu forced the French to negotiate and led to the Geneva Accords, which recognized the independence of Vietnam but temporarily divided the country into North and South Vietnam. The Geneva Accords also called for elections to be held in 1956 to reunify the country. However, the elections were never held, and the division of Vietnam became permanent. In conclusion, before the Second World War, Vietnam was under the colonial rule of France as part of French Indochina. The French colonial rule was characterized by economic exploitation, cultural suppression, and the suppression of Vietnamese nationalism. The Vietnamese people resisted French rule through various means, including uprisings and rebellions. The Second World War and the subsequent conflict with France led to the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the eventual recognition of Vietnam's independence.

This turned into an eight-year war in which the Vietnamese nationalist forces, led primarily by the Vietnamese Communists, ultimately forced the French from the country in late 1954 (Source 7). Vietnam War: After WWII, Vietnam gained independence but France still ruled the country until Ho Chi Mihn took over in 1954.