In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944 - December 22, 2024), the 35th anniversary of the National Defense Day (December 22, 1989 - December 22, 2024), the Vietnam Writers' Association of the province launched the photo book "Forever the fire of Tran Hung Dao forest" drafted and compiled by writer Hoang Quang Uyen.
Tran Hung Dao Forest, Tam Kim Commune (Nguyen Binh) - the place where the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army (VNTTGPQ), the predecessor of the Vietnam People's Army, was established on December 22, 1944, is a place in revolutionary history. Many books and documents have mentioned Tran Hung Dao Forest and the establishment of the VNTTGPQ, but due to the nature and specificity of each type of document compiled, this event is often presented briefly.
Perhaps stemming from this reality and the pain of General Vo Nguyen Giap's statement on December 16, 1994: "There should have been books by now recording the names of the cadres and soldiers of the Pac Bo Guerrilla Team, the National Salvation Army Units I, II, III, who were the armed propaganda platoon, who were the first company with three, then four platoons developed after a week? It's slow to do it now but it's still in time and must be done"... that writer Hoang Quang Uyen took on the responsibility of compiling this photo book. He spent a lot of time and effort researching documents, going on field trips, and collecting.
Thanks to that effort and dedication, the photo book "Forever the fire of Tran Hung Dao forest" is 136 pages thick but not light, spongy, if not heavy. The author proved reasonable when dividing the book into parts: From the origin of Pac Bo, The first armed forces, The road to the South, The bright fire of Tran Hung Dao forest, Vietnam Liberation Army, The sacred forest returns. Because Pac Bo is the origin of the Vietnamese revolution, the place where the 8th Central Conference was held (May 1941) with the revolutionary method "preparing for armed uprising is the central task of the entire Party and people in the current period" and from the first armed forces such as the Bac Son Guerrilla Team (established on February 14, 1941), the Pac Bo Guerrilla Team (established in November 1941), we have the VNTTGPQ Team. Among the 34 soldiers who initially founded the Team, many were former members of the Bac Son Guerrilla Team and Pac Bo Guerrilla Team. Many leaders of the Bac Son Guerrilla Team and Pac Bo Guerrilla Team later became senior leaders of the Party, State and army, such as Major General Le Quang Ba and Major General Le Thiet Hung.
“The Southern Road” is the revolutionary road from Cao Bang “must develop to Thai Nguyen and down” to “be able to contact the whole country”. “If the movement can be connected to Thai Nguyen, then when launching an armed struggle, when favorable, it can attack, when difficult, it can defend”. Through the documents of General Vo Nguyen Giap and Major General Le Thiet Hung, the author reconstructed the Southern Road - the development path of the Vietnamese revolution in the early days from Cao Bang to the southern provinces: “The road was created by propaganda work, mobilizing and enlightening each person, each family into national salvation associations to advance to the whole village, the whole commune and then the whole district. The road of absolute faith, of boundless love of the people for the revolution, for the Party’s cadres and vice versa, of the Party, of the cadres for the people. The road that the enemy terrorized and oppressed to the utmost could not erase”. Of course, this “Southern Road” bore the footprints of leader Nguyen Ai Quoc.
With “The Bright Fire of Tran Hung Dao Forest”, the author helps readers better understand the context at that time, both the space, time and revolutionary situation that led to the birth of the Team. 80 years have passed, but Tran Hung Dao Forest still echoes the speech of General Vo Nguyen Giap: Today, December 22, 1944, following the order of the organization, we gather in this green forest and red mountain, between Tran Hung Dao and Hoang Hoa Tham communes in the Cao - Bac - Lang Inter-Provincial Committee to inaugurate the founding of the VNTTGPQ Team.
The Liberation Army is a highly disciplined army, absolutely obedient to orders, an army rich in solidarity, sharing joys and sorrows. Our experience is still inexperienced, but only by doing can we gain experience and by doing will we gain experience. We believe in victory. According to the organization's directive, under the red flag with the five-pointed yellow star, I hereby declare the establishment of the VNTTGPQ Team and order you comrades to advance on the path of armed struggle.
In addition to recreating the ceremony and the developments of the two battles against Phai Khat and Na Ngan forts, Hoang Quang Uyen did not forget to mention the role of the jungle general Tran Hung Dao - Vo Nguyen Giap along with the list and hometown of the first 34 soldiers of our army, in which the first commanding officer was Hoang Sam (later promoted to Major General), the first political commissar was Duong Mac Thach, the officer in charge of intelligence and planning was Hoang Van Thai (later promoted to General)... When the VNTTGPQ Team developed into a company of 4 platoons, Hoang Quang Uyen also provided necessary documents and images. Platoon 1 had Platoon Leader Nam Tuan, political commissar Vu Lap (later promoted to Senior General), and Deputy Platoon Leader Be Van Sat; Platoon 2 had Platoon Leader Dam Quoc Chung, two political commissars Nam Long (initially) and Mai Trung Lam, Deputy Platoon Leader Be Son Cuong; Platoon 3 had Platoon Leader Dam Quang Trung (later promoted to Senior General), Political Commissar Hoang Thinh, two Deputy Platoon Leaders Mong Phuc Tho (initially) and Dao Manh Vy; Platoon 4 had Platoon Leader Linh Thanh, Political Commissar Nam Long (later promoted to Lieutenant General), Deputy Platoon Leader Nong Quoc Sung. The first commander Hoang Sam at that time held the position of Company Commander, Duong Mac Thach was the Company Political Commissar, Hoang Van Thai was still in charge of intelligence and planning.
The sections “Vietnam Liberation Army” and “The Sacred Forest Returns”, in historical order, refer to the event of the Northern revolutionary military conference (April 1945) that decided to unify the National Salvation Army and the VNTTGPQ with the armed forces of the Dong Trieu war zone, the Hoa - Ninh - Thanh war zone, the war zones in the North... into the Vietnam Liberation Army and the two returns to Tran Hung Dao forest of General Vo Nguyen Giap (in 1989 and 1994).
In general, the photo book “Forever the fire of Tran Hung Dao forest” is inspired by “remembering the source of water”, a remarkable effort and creativity of Hoang Quang Uyen - a writer with a deep love for history, with a tendency to research history and research literary works of historical significance. We completely agree with the comment of Senior Lieutenant General Be Xuan Truong, Chairman of the Vietnam Veterans Association: “The book is a valuable document, of great value in educating the traditions of cadres, soldiers and people of all walks of life”.
Thanh Ha
Source: https://baocaobang.vn/cuon-sach-quy-ve-quan-doi-nhan-dan-viet-nam-nhung-ngay-dau-thanh-lap-3174156.html
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