Dien Bien Phu — French Empire Falls in Indochina

General Giáp's Việt Minh forces defeat the French Expeditionary Corps at Dien Bien Phu after a 57-day siege, ending French colonial rule in Indochina. Over 13,000 French soldiers are captured; 8,000 die in captivity. The defeat triggers the Geneva Accords (July 1954) dividing Vietnam at the 17th parallel and ending French involvement in Southeast Asia.