Ninh Binh shared the burden of fighting with the Dien Bien Phu battlefield.

Việt Nam•03/05/2024

The victory at Dien Bien Phu on May 7, 1954, has gone down in Vietnamese national history as a glorious milestone, a symbol of revolutionary heroism. It is an epic of a miraculous people's war, "recorded in national history as a Bach Dang, a Chi Lang, or a Dong Da in the 20th century, and entering world history as a brilliant achievement, a breakthrough against the stronghold of the colonial system of imperialism." In this glorious milestone, Ninh Binh is proud to have made many significant contributions, helping to make the campaign a complete victory.

Responding to President Ho Chi Minh's nationwide call for resistance (December 19, 1946), the entire Party, people, and army bravely embarked on a protracted resistance war against the invading French colonialists. The Politburo decided to launch the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, establishing the Campaign Command and the Front Party Committee with General Vo Nguyen Giap as Commander and Secretary of the Campaign Party Committee; it decided to concentrate 4 infantry divisions and 1 artillery division with a total force of over 40,000 generals, officers, and soldiers. The whole country concentrated its strength on the Dien Bien Phu front; the main army units quickly assembled along with hundreds of thousands of volunteer youth and civilian laborers, braving bombs and bullets, working day and night to clear forests, cut through mountains, build roads, haul artillery, and construct fortifications, ready to attack the enemy and ensure logistical support for the campaign.

Along with compatriots and soldiers nationwide, 70 years ago, with the slogan "All for the front lines, all for victory," the army and people of Ninh Binh dedicated all their resources and efforts to the Dien Bien Phu campaign. The entire Ninh Binh province poured its resources into Dien Bien Phu; the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Resistance Committee, and all districts and towns in the province, including the temporarily occupied areas, established Frontline Supply Committees, mobilizing food, medicine, and other essential supplies to serve the battlefield, ensuring that the troops were well-fed and could fight to victory.

The movement to enlist in the army was vibrant, with many applications written in blood. The call to arms for Dien Bien Phu to defeat the enemy became a sacred rallying cry deeply ingrained in the hearts of young people. By early 1954, the number and types of transport vehicles serving the war effort had increased by one and a half times compared to previous years; tens of thousands of civilian laborers were mobilized and organized to serve the campaign, transporting rice from the No. 1 Forward Supply Depot in Nho Quan district to the foot of Pha Din pass.

Between February and April 1954 alone, 3,716 young people from the province enlisted, supplementing the main army units of the Ministry, the Inter-regional Command, and the local authorities. Soldiers from Ninh Binh province served in many main units directly involved in the fighting at Dien Bien Phu, such as the 351st Division, the 312th Division, the 304th Division, the 316th Division, and several other main units… Many officers and soldiers were present from the very beginning, traversing forests, crossing streams, digging tunnels and trenches, and opening roads to Dien Bien Phu. They all carried within them the heroic traditions of the ancient capital, a revolutionary fervor, "Despite bombs and bullets, even if bones are shattered and flesh is torn, we will not lose heart, we will not regret our youth." They lived beautifully, giving their all for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.

Among the civilian laborers from Ninh Binh who served in the war effort, transporting rice back then was Mr. Hoang Cao Son, now 94 years old, currently living in Binh Yen Tay Street, Ninh Khanh Ward (Ninh Binh City). He directly participated in transporting food from the No. 1 Forward Supply Depot in Nho Quan District to the Dien Bien Phu battlefield using a cargo bicycle.

Recalling his time participating in the "battlefront" at Dien Bien Phu seven decades ago, Mr. Son reminisced: "Back then, I was just over 20 years old and assigned to transport five barrels of brown sugar to the Northwest. Upon receiving the assignment, I and the other civilian laborers braved the hardships, traversing forests and streams day and night (mainly transporting food at night; during the day we had to stop to take shelter and avoid enemy aircraft). Along the way, the civilian laborers faced countless difficulties: the relentless cold winds from the Northwest mountains, the dangers of steep slopes, deep ravines, and dense forests, and the pursuit by enemy aircraft."

However, with the spirit of "All for the front lines, all for victory," I, like many other civilian laborers from Ninh Binh, always told myself: No matter how difficult it is, we must strive to overcome it, to contribute to the revolution, and to glorify the traditions of the heroic sons and daughters of Hoa Lu ancient capital. After transporting 5 barrels of sugar from Ninh Binh to our army's food storage depot in Son La, Mr. Hoang Cao Son continued to work with other civilian laborers on the front lines, undertaking the task of transporting food, ammunition, stretchers, and more.

Thanks to the contributions of civilian laborers and other forces, our troops on the battlefield were supplied with sufficient food, medicine, and ammunition, making a crucial contribution to the final victory of the war. After the complete victory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, Mr. Hoang Cao Son returned to his hometown and continued to uphold the tradition of civilian laborers, actively participating in production. In 2020, he was certified by the Command of Military Region 3 for his participation in the civilian labor force. "I am honored to have contributed a small part to the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. The years I spent as a civilian laborer will forever be an unforgettable memory," Mr. Hoang Cao Son proudly shared.

While devoting their efforts to the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, the army and people of Ninh Binh seized every opportunity, continuously attacking and destroying enemy outposts and fortifications in the area, quickly liberating their homeland; closely coordinating and directly supporting the main army units in attacking the enemy locally, creating a situation and strength that weakened the enemy's forces, leaving them no opportunity to reinforce their fortified complex.

The immense contributions of the Party Committee, military, and people of Ninh Binh in the resistance war against French colonialism in general, and in the Dien Bien Phu campaign in particular, played a crucial role in achieving the Dien Bien Phu victory alongside the people of the whole country. During the fighting and support of the Dien Bien Phu campaign, the military and people of Ninh Binh were awarded 11,677 medals and decorations of various kinds by the National Assembly and the Government; 3,426 commendations from the Prime Minister; and notably, one district, 25 communes, and two individuals were honored by the President with the title of Hero of the Armed Forces during the anti-French resistance period.

At the end of the war, many outstanding sons and daughters of Ninh Binh province perished or left a part of their blood and bones on the battlefield; their blood and bones have become one with Mother Earth, so that today Dien Bien Phu has become a meeting place of peace. After fighting and returning victorious, the Dien Bien Phu soldiers, Youth Volunteers, and civilian workers of yesteryear, regardless of their positions, have upheld the qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers," continuing to contribute to building their homeland and country, serving as shining examples for their descendants to follow. They are the ones who contributed to the victory not only of Dien Bien Phu but also further enhanced the tradition of patriotism against foreign invaders, the character, and the spirit of the land and people of Ninh Binh - a land of "spiritual and talented people."

Text and photos: Mai Lan

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