Bulletins Friendship and cooperration
Ho Chi Minh thought on people's warfare is the guiding thread that runs through his military doctrine, and the Dien Bien Phu campaign is a vivid manifestation of its successful application.
In 1953, the national resistance against French colonialists entered its eighth year. As the Vietnamese army and people fought harder, the French colonialists found themselves getting increasingly bogged down in a losing battle with no escape. In response, the French appointed General Navarre as the Commander-in-Chief of the French Expeditionary Corps in Indochina, reinforcing their forces and weaponry in an attempt to turn defeat into victory. Amid the difficult resistance, President Ho Chi Minh made a secret visit to the Soviet Union and China in 1950 to seek support for Vietnam's resistance against the French invaders.
Under the wise and talented leadership of the Party Central Committee, led by President Ho Chi Minh, and the flexible command of the General Command, the Vietnamese army and people mobilized their entire strength for the Dien Bien Phu campaign. To harness the great unity of the nation during the campaign, the Party and Government, led by President Ho Chi Minh, established policies and measures to foster and ignite patriotism among all social strata and the entire nation, aimed at fighting for the interests of the homeland and creating the invincible power of the Vietnamese people's war.
President Ho Chi Minh initiated a patriotic emulation movement with the motto "All for the frontline." The Politburo, the Central Military Commission, and the General Command strengthened mass mobilization efforts to serve the battlefield. They directed local administrative authorities and the army to grasp the situation, enlighten and mobilize the masses and motivate them to entrust the Party and President Ho Chi Minh so as to wholeheartedly serve or contribute to the campaign.
During the resistance, the Party, Government, and President Ho Chi Minh implemented various policies to improve the spiritual and material life of the people. The policy of "resisting while building the nation," which included building a new regime, consolidating the rear, and developing the economy, culture, and society, as well as reducing rents and advancing land reform, unleashed the extraordinary strength of the masses. This policy significantly enhanced our capability to mobilize human and material resources for the front, meeting the enormous demands of the protracted resistance.
The Dien Bien Phu victory 70 years ago is considered one of the most prominent battles of the 20th century. This assessment comes from senior researcher, Dr. Anatoly Sokolov, at the Center for Southeast Asia, Australia, and Oceania Studies, under the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in an interview with VNA reporters in Moscow about the "Great Victorious Springs" of the Vietnamese people.
According to Dr. Sokolov, the Dien Bien Phu victory concluded the successful resistance of the Vietnamese people against French colonialism and became one of the most important battles in the 20th-century history. It was studied by military academies worldwide and referred to as the "Stalingrad of Vietnam." The Dien Bien Phu battle demonstrated France's failure not only in Vietnam but also throughout Southeast Asia, leading to the liberation of the entire Indochina from French colonial rule. The Vietnamese national liberation movement unified and strengthened various guerrilla groups to form a formidable force capable of defeating a modern European army. At the time, the world press used the image of "grasshoppers defeating elephants" to describe this battle.
Many international military analysts believe this victory was achieved due to three main factors in Vietnam's actions. The first was the clear strategy and tactics of the Vietnamese side, skillfully utilizing and mobilizing all resources and forces of the entire people and army. The second was the heroic Vietnamese army, which, despite limited weaponry types, effectively used military equipment. The third was the successful military logistics campaign, involving tens of thousands of civilians, regardless of gender or age, participating in carrying, transporting supplies to the front, and building roads to move artillery into position.
The historic Dien Bien Phu victory resulted from the combined strength of many factors, most crucially the wise leadership of the Party Central Committee and President Ho Chi Minh, along with the patriotism, unity, intelligence, and resilience of the Vietnamese people. This collective effort was driven by the thought and fighting spirit of "sacrifice everything, never accept losing the country or being slaves!", and the determination of the People's Army and armed forces of Vietnam. Additionally, there was the united fight against a common enemy by the armies and peoples of the three Indochinese countries, and the significant support and assistance from fraternal countries and peace-loving people worldwide.
This May, the entire nation turns its attention to Dien Bien, joyfully commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory. The people remember the immense contributions of President Ho Chi Minh, our talented leader, along with the heroes, martyrs, soldiers, and citizens who united and sacrificed blood and sweat. They contributed human and material resources to achieving the victory as said in the verse: "Nine years made Dien Bien Phu into a red crown and a golden chapter in the nation’s history."
Bao Anh