Following the Xá Lợi Pagoda raids , the senior generals started their own plot in earnest . General Trần Văn Đôn , nominally a high-ranking general , but without command of troops because the palace distrusted him , was sought out by Mậu , who wanted to collaborate . Mậu later accompanied the ranking general in the plot , Dương Văn Minh , on recruitment campaigns . Despite his high rank , Minh was out of favour and served as the Presidential Military Advisor , a meaningless desk job where he had no subordinates in the field and no access to soldiers . Mậu helped Minh to secure the cooperation of General Nguyễn Khánh , who commanded the II Corps that oversaw the central highlands of the country , and Colonel Nguyễn Văn Thiệu , who commanded the 5th Division based just outside the capital Saigon in Biên Hòa . According to Thiệu , Mậu and Minh had promised to establish a more strongly anti-communist government , to expel Nhu and his wife , Madame Nhu , from the country and keep Diệm as a figurehead president . In October , the younger officers ' plot was integrated into the generals ' larger group , which was more likely to succeed , as Khiêm and Mậu were involved with both groups . The coup was successfully executed on 1 November 1963 under the leadership of Generals Minh and Đôn
Xá Lợi Pagoda raids
Xá Lợi Pagoda raids
Đỗ Mậu