North Vietnamese Army close to cutting South Vietnam in two
Hanois 320th Division drives 5000 South Vietnamese troops into retreat and traps about 2500 others in a border outpost northwest of Kontum in the Central Highlands.This was part of the ongoing North Vietnamese Nguyen Hue Offensive also known as the Easter Offensive which included an invasion by 120000 North Vietnamese troops.The offensive was based on three objectives Quang Tri in the north Kontum in the Central Highlands and An Loc in the southjust 65 miles north of Saigon.
If successful the attack at Kontum would effectively cut South Vietnam in two across the Central Highlands giving North Vietnam control of the northern half of South Vietnam.The South Vietnamese defenders were able to hold out and prevent this from happening.
