Dien Bien Phu Victory - Victory of patriotism and indomitable will of the Vietnamese people

70TH ANNIVERSARY OF DIEN BIEN PHU VICTORY (May 7, 1954 - May 7, 2024)

Updated date: 05/07/2024 05:43:31

FRENCH COLONIALIST CONSPIRACY

Consecutive defeats on the battlefields pushed the French colonialists deeper into a passive and dangerous position. In May 1953, with the support of the United States, the French Government appointed General Henri Nava, Chief of Staff of the French Army of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) stationed in Central Europe, as Commander-in-Chief of the French Expeditionary Force in Indochina. After surveying the battlefield, Nava proposed a comprehensive military plan (called the Nava Plan) which was approved by the French Government and Defense Council on July 24, 1953, with the hope of turning defeat into victory.

Partial photo of the Panorama painting recreating the " Dien Bien Phu Campaign"

In mid-November 1953, our main force advanced to the Northwest, a part advanced to Central Laos to coordinate the fight with the Pathet and Laotian armies. Faced with that situation, Nava's plan was disrupted, they had to disperse their forces to deal with us. Nava focused all efforts on building Dien Bien Phu into the strongest stronghold group in Indochina - "an impregnable fortress" consisting of 49 strongholds, divided into three mutually supporting sub-regions, with a solid defense structure, more than 16,200 troops including 21 battalions, with the intention of challenging and crushing our main force.

OUR STRATEGIC COMMAND

Realizing the French colonialists' tricks in the Nava plan, at the end of September 1953, the Politburo issued a resolution approving the 1953-1954 Winter-Spring combat plan, maintaining the initiative to fight the enemy on both the front and behind enemy lines, coordinating nationwide and throughout Indochina, emphasizing the fighting motto of "active, proactive, mobile, flexible". The Politburo 's resolution was thoroughly disseminated to all levels and sectors; plans for coordinated combat operations between us and Laos and Cambodia were vigorously implemented.

In December 1953, the Politburo decided to launch the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, assigning General Vo Nguyen Giap - Politburo member, Minister of National Defense, Commander-in-Chief of the Army to directly serve as Party Secretary and Commander of the Front. President Ho Chi Minh instructed: "This campaign is a very important campaign, not only militarily but also politically, not only domestically but also internationally. Therefore, the entire army, the entire people, the entire Party must concentrate on completing it successfully". Uncle instructed General Vo Nguyen Giap: must win, only fight when sure of victory, do not fight when not sure of victory. The Government also decided to establish the Front Supply Council with comrade Pham Van Dong as Chairman.

With the special importance of the campaign, the Politburo and the Central Military Commission decided to concentrate the main elite force including 4 infantry divisions, 1 artillery division, with a total force of over 40,000 officers and soldiers. The main army units quickly assembled, day and night clearing forests, cutting mountains to open roads, pulling artillery, building battlefields, ready to attack the enemy. The entire vast rear of the country focused its manpower and resources with more than 260,000 laborers and youth volunteers, regardless of bombs and bullets, towards Dien Bien, ensuring logistics for the campaign.

The living and working hut of General Vo Nguyen Giap - Commander-in-Chief of the Vietnam People's Army and Commander of the Dien Bien Phu campaign

CAMPAIGN HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE

After the preparations were completed, on March 13, 1954, our army opened fire to attack Dien Bien Phu. The campaign took place in 3 phases over nearly 2 months.

In the first phase (from March 13 to March 17, 1954), we completely destroyed the Him Lam and Doc Lap strongholds; the enemy's two most elite battalions were destroyed and several other battalions disintegrated; a large number of 105mm artillery, 120mm mortars and fighter planes in the basin were all destroyed by us.

Phase 2 (from March 30 to April 30, 1954), we simultaneously attacked the strongholds in the East of the central sub-sector and destroyed about 5,000 enemies; controlled the remaining areas, controlled Muong Thanh airport, and limited enemy reinforcements to the stronghold group.

Phase 3 (from May 1 to May 7, 1954), we captured the remaining bases and launched a general attack to destroy the entire Dien Bien Phu base. At 5:00 p.m. on May 6, 1954, our artillery and rockets fired fiercely at the enemy bases, opening the way for the infantry to attack. At 5:30 p.m. on May 7, 1954, General De Castries and the entire General Staff of the Dien Bien Phu base were captured alive. That same night, our troops continued to fight the enemy, forcing them to flee to Upper Laos. By 10:00 p.m., all enemy troops had been taken prisoner.

The Dien Bien Phu victory was the pinnacle of the resistance war against French colonialism, creating the fundamental and decisive basis for the signing of the Geneva Agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Vietnam; opening a new revolutionary stage, bringing the North to transition to socialism, creating a solid rear for the cause of fighting to completely liberate the South and unify the country; affirming the correct and creative resistance line of the Party and the growth and maturity of the Vietnam People's Army. The Dien Bien Phu victory ended the domination of French colonialism in the three Indochinese countries, initiating the collapse of old colonialism on a worldwide scale.

The 960kg explosive crater on Hill A1 is still intact as evidence of the fierce battle of Dien Bien Phu campaign in 1954.

PROMOTING THE SPIRIT OF DIEN BIEN PHU VICTORY

Following the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory in 1954, our people achieved glorious feats, completely liberating the South, unifying the country, and moving the whole country forward to build socialism; firmly protecting the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Fatherland.

Over the past years, our Party and State have given priority and attention to the comprehensive development of the Northwest region. The Party Committee and People of the Northwest provinces have focused on building a strong political system, exploiting and developing the socio-economy of localities in the region; closely combining economic development with ensuring national defense and security, building a solid defense zone, making an important contribution to ensuring the stability and development of the whole country.

Promoting the spirit of Dien Bien Phu Victory, Dien Bien province has also focused on building and consolidating the political system, focusing on exploiting potentials and strengths, maintaining stable socio-economic development and continuous development. The investment and business environment has been improved, administrative reform has clearly changed; the appearance of urban areas and many rural areas has changed and progressed; social security has been ensured, the rate of poor and near-poor households has decreased, and the lives of ethnic people have gradually improved. The relics of the Dien Bien battlefield have been preserved and conserved, becoming attractive tourist destinations for domestic and foreign visitors...

Command bunker of Dien Bien Phu stronghold - Where General De Castries and the entire General Staff of Dien Bien Phu stronghold were captured alive

The 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory is an occasion for us to be even more proud of the glorious Communist Party of Vietnam, of the great President Ho Chi Minh who led the Vietnamese revolution to overcome all storms and reach the shore of glory. The historic Dien Bien Phu Victory will forever be a source of pride and a great source of strength to encourage our entire Party, people and army to resolutely fulfill all tasks and strive to build a socialist-oriented country by the middle of the 21st century.

After 56 days and nights of “digging mountains, sleeping in tunnels, pouring rain, eating rice balls”, fighting bravely, intelligently, and creatively, our army and people crushed the entire Dien Bien Phu stronghold, destroyed and captured all enemy troops, shot down 62 planes, seized 64 vehicles and all of the enemy’s weapons, warehouses, military uniforms, and military equipment. The historic Dien Bien Phu campaign was a complete victory, this is the heroic epic of the miraculous people’s war, “recorded in national history as a Bach Dang, a Chi Lang or a Dong Da in the 20th century and entered world history as a brilliant feat of breaking through the stronghold of the colonial slavery system of imperialism”.

Phu Nghia

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