h . ▁ ▁First ▁Ind och ina ▁War ▁The ▁ 3 1 2 th ▁Division ▁was ▁formed ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 9 5 0 ▁and ▁first ▁saw ▁action ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 9 5 1 ▁at ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁V ĩ n h ▁Y ên . ▁ ▁In ▁late ▁April ▁ 1 9 5 3 ▁General ▁V õ ▁N gu y ên ▁Gi á p ▁ordered ▁the ▁ 3 1 2 th ▁to ▁threaten ▁Lu ang ▁P rab ang , ▁the ▁division ▁reached ▁the ▁out sk ir ts ▁of ▁the ▁capital ▁on ▁ 3 0 ▁April ▁but ▁were ▁then ▁with dra wn ▁back ▁into ▁Ton kin . ▁ ▁In ▁November ▁ 1 9 5 3 ▁the ▁ 3 1 2 th ▁was ▁position ed ▁near ▁Ph ú ▁Th ọ ▁to ▁protect ▁against ▁any ▁French ▁action ▁in ▁the ▁Red ▁River ▁region . ▁On ▁ 2 4 ▁December ▁Gia p ▁ordered ▁the ▁ 3 1 2 th ▁to ▁move ▁from ▁Ph ú ▁Th ọ ▁to ▁ Đ i ệ n ▁Bi ên ▁Ph ủ ▁and ▁by ▁mid ▁January ▁ 1 9 5 4 ▁they ▁were ▁in ▁position ▁in ▁the ▁north - east ▁of ▁the ▁valley . ▁ ▁Reg iments ▁ 1 4 1 ▁and ▁ 2 0 9 ▁of ▁the ▁ 3 1 2 th ▁led ▁the ▁initial ▁attack ▁of ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁D ien ▁Bien ▁Ph u , ▁over running ▁Str ong point ▁Be atrice ▁in ▁five ▁hours ▁on ▁the ▁night ▁of ▁ 1 3 ▁March ▁ 1 9 5 4 . ▁On ▁the