Dr. James H. Willbanks discusses the events that led to the end of the Vietnam War on Wednesday, April 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Library, 14 W. 10th St.

The event marks the 35th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon, which occurred on April 30, 1975.

A leading Vietnam War scholar, Willbanks will discuss the Paris Peace Accords, the “Cease-Fire War,” the repercussions from the resignation of President Richard Nixon, the North Vietnamese decision to launch a general offensive, and the strong disagreements in the United States over whether or not to aid the government of Nguyen Van Thieu. He will also explain the reasons for the chaos in South Vietnam that led to the collapse of the South Vietnamese armed forces just 55 days after the Communists launched what turned out to be their final offensive in 1975.

Willbanks is the General of the Armies George C. Marshall chair of Military History and director of the Department of Military History at the United Sates Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He has been on the staff since 1992, when he retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel with 23 years of service.