Le Déserteur (song)
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"Le Déserteur" is an anti-war song written by the French poet and musician Boris Vian. It was first performed on the day of the decisive French defeat in the First Indochina War on May 7, 1954. The so
Writer and musician Boris Vian was a heavy critic of the French colonial wars of the 1950s. Due to the heavy criticism expressed in Le Déserteur, French radio stations were not allowed to play it.
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
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The Battle of Điện Biên Phủ was a defeat of the French Union forces by the Viet Minh forces in the First Indochina War. It took place between 13 March and 7 May 1954.
Le Déserteur (song)
…French pronunciation: , The Deserter) is an anti-war song written by the French poet and musician Boris Vian. It was first performed on the day of the decisive French defeat in the First Indochina War on May 7, 1954. The song was sung by Marcel Mouloudji on that day in concert, and he recorded it a week later. However, its…
Viet Minh troops planting their flag over the captured French headquarters at Dien Bien Phu
An aerial view of the Dien Bien Phu valley in 1953
Colonel Christian de Castries, French commander at Điện Biên Phủ
Viet Minh Hmong porters on their way to the battle; thousands were used to handle supplies, food, weapons and ammunition to the besiegers