Editing Nguyễn Văn Thiệu (section)

==Role in stopping 1960 anti-Diệm coup==
{{Main|1960 South Vietnamese coup attempt}}
On 11 November 1960, Colonels [[Vương Văn Đông]] and [[Nguyễn Chánh Thi]] launched a coup attempt against President [[Ngô Đình Diệm]], but after surrounding the palace, they stopped attacking and decided to negotiate a power-sharing agreement. Diệm falsely promised reform, allowing time for loyalists to come to the rescue. The rebels had also failed to seal the highways into the capital to block loyalist reinforcements.<ref>Jacobs, pp. 115–18.</ref>

Thiệu sent infantry from his [[7th Division (South Vietnam)|7th Division]] from [[Biên Hòa]], a town just north of Saigon, to help rescue Diệm.<ref name=j118>Jacobs, p. 118.</ref> As the false promises of reform were being aired, [[Trần Thiện Khiêm]]'s men approached the palace grounds. Some of the rebels switched sides as the power balance changed.<ref name="j118"/><ref name=m113>Moyar (2006), p. 113.</ref> After a brief but violent battle that killed around 400 people, the coup attempt was crushed.<ref name="l">Langguth, pp. 105–10.</ref><ref>Jacobs, pp. 117–20.</ref> On 21 October 1961, Thiệu was transferred to command the [[1st Division (South Vietnam)|1st Division]], based in Huế. He remained in the post until 8 December 1962, when General [[Đỗ Cao Trí]] took over.<ref name=ob>Tucker, pp. 526–33.</ref> Twelve days later, Thiệu was appointed commander of the [[5th Division (South Vietnam)|5th Division]], which was based in Biên Hòa, the 7th having been moved to [[Mỹ Tho]].<ref name=ob/> Diệm did not trust Thiệu's predecessor, Nguyễn Đức Thắng, but Thiệu's appointment proved to be a mistake.<ref name=future/>