May 1, 1954, the third offensive began.

The third offensive of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign began from May 1, 1954 to May 7, 1954.

The mission of this phase is to capture the remaining high ground in the East, with the focus on capturing Hill A1, destroying several strongholds in the West, eliminating a further portion of the enemy's forces, further developing the offensive and encirclement positions, utilizing all available firepower to bombard the enemy's central area, threatening their remaining airspace, and preparing for a general offensive.

On the enemy side: On May 1, 1954, enemy aircraft began using a new type of American bomb (Hail Leaflet) containing thousands of very small, sharp projectiles, designed to inflict casualties on crowds. This bomb posed no danger to people in fortifications or trenches and was difficult to use in battles where our troops and the enemy were almost mixed together. Langlais and Bigeard adjusted and reinforced the defensive organization in the central area.

French soldiers built a dense network of trenches to defend their positions at Dien Bien Phu. Photo: Getty Images

The best units and most trusted commanders remaining from the fortified complex were reinforced at the Elian resistance center. There, they deployed the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Colonial Parachute Regiment, the 6th Assault Parachute Battalion, the 5th South Vietnamese Parachute Battalion, the 1st Battalion of the 13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade, along with two independent companies, an engineering unit, and a number of Algerian and Thai soldiers. However, these units had suffered heavy losses and their formations were makeshift.

On our side: At 5 PM on May 1, 1954, our artillery of all calibers suddenly opened fire on many areas of the enemy's fortified complex. This time, the enemy's artillery cluster at Hong Cum was neutralized and paralyzed. An ammunition depot with 3,000 rounds of ammunition was blown up. Food and supplies warehouses caught fire. The shelling lasted nearly an hour. After the shelling stopped, our units simultaneously advanced to attack multiple positions.

Diagram illustrating the course of the battle for C1 stronghold. Photo: VNA

In the East, the 98th Regiment launched its second attack on C1. The enemy still maintained their command post on C2 and sensed that the battle for C1 was imminent. On May 1st, the enemy decided to send Company 3 of the 2nd Airborne Fighter Battalion to replace the depleted Clédic Company, and simultaneously ordered Company 1 to be ready to participate in the counterattack.

Our 811th Company had defended C1 for 20 days and nights when it was ordered to move 200 meters from its position for artillery preparation. Company commander Le Van Dy, seeing that the fortifications were strong enough to withstand artillery fire and confident in the accuracy of our artillery, decided to only allow the reserve force to retreat, while the entire unit remained in its position to avoid missing the opportunity to charge.

Our troops stormed and captured the last enemy bunker at C1 stronghold. Photo: VNA.

The high ground we captured in the eastern area proved effective. The mountain artillery on Hill D1 accurately targeted each position on C1. As soon as the shelling stopped, Comrade Dỵ immediately ordered the removal of the barricades separating our forces from the enemy, allowing our troops to charge towards the Flagpole. Our hand grenades and shrapnel rained down on the enemy positions, and submachine guns fired incessantly. Soldier Thắng, carrying the flag, rushed forward, hitting a bullet and dying within 10 meters of the target. Soldier Ân covered his fallen comrade with a blanket, picked up the blood-soaked, bullet-riddled flag, and continued advancing to the highest point on the hilltop. The entire vanguard squad followed closely behind him. In just 5 minutes, we had captured the Flagpole. The newly replaced 3rd Airborne Fighter Company was stunned by the lightning-fast and fierce attack. The paratroopers fired relentlessly at the Flagpole area. Our 1480th Company, advancing from below, arrived just in time, and together with the 811th Company, formed two attack fronts to divide and destroy the enemy.

Hand-to-hand combat ensued. Lieutenant Leguère, commanding Company 3, resisted, waiting for reinforcements. The enemy decided to send Company 1 up as reinforcement. But it was too late. Lieutenant Périou, commanding the company, died as soon as he set foot on the hill. Shortly afterward, Lieutenant Leguère, commanding Company 3, was also seriously wounded. The enemy at C1 gradually lost its fighting spirit. Some soldiers covered themselves with tarpaulins and feigned death, waiting for the gunfire to cease before surrendering. By midnight, the entire enemy force was annihilated. Barbed wire and mines taken from the enemy's positions were immediately scattered across the hillside, creating a dense barbed wire barrier to prevent enemy counterattacks.

After more than 30 days and nights of continuous fighting, the battle at C1 was now over. C2 lay completely under our recoilless artillery fire. As dawn broke, there was no sign of enemy counterattack. Only the four-barreled heavy machine guns positioned at De Castries' command post were furiously firing at our positions on the hilltop, as if trying to prevent an assault.

East of the Nam Rom River, the 166th and 154th Battalions of the 209th Regiment attacked strongholds 505 and 505A. A company of the 6th Foreign Legion Paratrooper Battalion and Algerian and Thai troops stationed there, under the command of Battalion Commander Chenel, put up fierce resistance. Both sides fought for every gun emplacement and trench. At 2:00 AM on May 2nd, the 209th Regiment completely destroyed both strongholds, ending the existence of the Dominique resistance center.

Our soldiers captured French prisoners of war during an attack on an enemy stronghold at Dien Bien Phu. (Photo: VNA)

On the western field, the battle to destroy the 811A stronghold of the 88th Regiment unfolded rapidly. The tactic of advancing forward continued to be employed. With trenches dug through the stronghold's perimeter, our troops launched a surprise assault. The entire African-European Company, which had just arrived to reinforce the defense of this stronghold, was wiped out in less than 80 minutes.

Thus, on the very first night of the third offensive, the enemy lost four more strongholds: C1, 505, 505A in the East and 311A ​​in the West. At Hong Cum, the encirclement and assault on Zone C by the 57th Regiment inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, so on the morning of May 2nd, the enemy had to retreat from the area.

Our troops' deep trenches across the western plains were all aimed directly at De Castries' command post. The entire fortified complex had been cornered in this final "square."

THANH VINH/qdnd.vn

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/chien-dich-dien-bien-phu-ngay-1-5-1954-bat-dau-dot-tien-cong-thu-3-213019.htm