The Massacre at Hue occurred from 30 January to 28 February 1968, during which the Viet Cong and People's Army of Vietnam killed between 2,800 and 6,000 people in Hue City, Vietnam in a series of summary executions and mass killings. Victims included men, women, and children, and they included both civilians and prisoners of war. The massacre was a part of a purge of a whole social stratum, with all who were friendly to Americans being punished by the communists. However, the massacre would lose its audacity when it was reported that South Vietnamese revenge squads massacred those who were suspected of supporting the communist occupation of the city. In addition, it was reported that the majority of victims may have either been killed by American bombardments, or that the communists killed their prisoners to maintain the safety of their retreat from the city.