This week in the War, 20–26 August 1945: Ho Chi Minh stays in charge

This week in the war, 20 August 1945: As agreed at the Potsdam Conference, the Chinese forces of Chiang Kai-shek crossed into northern Vietnam (Indochina) to accept the surrender of the Japanese.

The Chinese left local control in the hands of the Vietnamese provisional government which was headquartered in Hanoi and led by Vietnamese nationalist, Ho Chi Minh.

The Potsdam Conference had assigned the southern part of the country to Allied Southeast Asia command and the British arrived in Saigon with the French, who moved to reestablish their control.

Thus Vietnam became divided.