Intelligence Fit for Purpose French Intelligence in Indochina

Intelligence Fit for Purpose French Intelligence in Indochina 1950 -54 Alexander Zervoudakis MOD (UK)

To start with… • Please delete at least for 20 mins your views of the French…. in Indochina… • Acronyms : – CEFEO: French Expeditionary Force Far East – EMIFT: Joint and Land Forces HQ – ZOT: Tonkin Operational Zone

Sources and Bibliography • French Military Archives are rich in Intelligence related material • Classified documents can be consulted • Understanding of structures important • Secondary sources extremely poor • Cyclical reporting – journalistic accounts

Intelligence Structures Strategic/Operational Level Cin. C CEFEO High Commissioner

Cin. C (GENECHEF) Intelligence Structures

HUMINT • • SDECE (SR) Sûreté Vietnamese Sûreté Securite Militaire (CI ) SDECE (CI) SRO SR de l’Etat du Vietnam (Vietnamese Intelligence)

Cin. C (GENECHEF) Intelligence Structures

Cin. C (GENECHEF) Intelligence Structures

HOA HOANG THAM -1951 BAC KAN LANG SON TUYEN QUANG YEN BAY THAI NGUYEN X DINH LAP NHANAM KEP 312 SON LA Vinh Yen Phuc Yen HANOI VM TROOPS MOVE IN BAVI Bac Ninh Canal LUC NAM LOGISTICS PHU LANG BUILT UP THONG apides R Hadong Quang Yen HAIDUONG HAIPHONG Hung Yen HOA BINH al Can HOANG HOA THAM. FEBRUARY/MARCH 1951 VM DECEPTION & CEFEO INTELLIGENCE INDICATIONS Phuly VM DECEPTION LOGS LOGISTICS MOVEMENTS 5 th FRONT Nam Dinh Phu Nho Quan Ninh Binh s bou Bam des Hongay

HOA HOANG THAM -1951 BAC KAN GS LO LANG SON TUYEN QUANG RECRUITS 308 DIV THAI NGUYEN X GS LO YEN BAY To DINH LAP KEP II Vinh Yen Phuc Yen HANOI Bac Ninh Canal LUC NAM LOGISTICS PHU LANG BUILT UP THONG apides R Hadong Quang Yen HAIDUONG HAIPHONG Hung Yen HOA BINH al Phuly VM DECEPTION LOGISTICS MOVEMENTS 5 th FRONT AIR RECCE (30 km BELT ALONG THE DELTA'S BORDERS) AND NIGHT AIR RECCE, ARE NOT SHOWN. Nam Dinh Phu Nho Quan Ninh Binh s bou Can HOANG HOA THAM. FEBRUARY/MARCH 1951 VM DECEPTION & CEFEO INTELLIGENCE INDICATIONS LOGS S KE P 426 INT VM TROOPS MOVE IN BAVI G NHANAM 312 SON LA LO Bam des S LOG Hongay

HOA HOANG THAM -1951 BAC KAN GS LO LANG SON TUYEN QUANG Mao Khe, Mar 1951 RECRUITS 308 DIV THAI NGUYEN X GS LO YEN BAY To DINH LAP KEP II Vinh Yen Phuc Yen HANOI Bac Ninh Canal LUC NAM LOGISTICS PHU LANG BUILT UP THONG apides R DESERTERS 174 REGT REPORT Hadong Hung Yen HOA BINH al Phuly VM DECEPTION LOGISTICS MOVEMENTS 5 th FRONT AIR RECCE (30 km BELT ALONG THE DELTA'S BORDERS) AND NIGHT AIR RECCE, ARE NOT SHOWN. Nam Dinh Phu Nho Quan Ninh Binh Quang Yen HAIDUONG HAIPHONG s bou Can HOANG HOA THAM. FEBRUARY/MARCH 1951 VM DECEPTION & CEFEO INTELLIGENCE INDICATIONS LOGS S KE P 426 INT VM TROOPS MOVE IN BAVI G NHANAM 312 SON LA LO Bam des S LOG Hongay

RC 4 Sept – Oct 50 • 2 Bureau: VM is evolving and strengthening • 2 Bureau: VM strategic intentions correctly assessed • Cin C & 3 Bureau(Ops): VM lethal but “rebels” • VM are HLL (Hors la Loi- Outlaws) Manual 1950 RC 4 -1950

Pho Lu - Feb 50 • 2 Bureau : – 308 th Div – 5000 VM – Organic artillery

Intelligence failures? • RC 4 – Intelligence assessments disregarded • Dien Bien Phu – French Govt. changed course without taking into account intelligence or the Cin. C

Conclusion • CEFEO Intelligence structures and output were fit for purpose • Intelligence does not win wars on its own • Governments and Generals disregard it at their peril