In1953, eight years after reinvading Indochina, despite having mobilised huge economic và military resources, the French colonialists failed lớn achieve their purpose of destroying the revolutionary government và resistance forces
| General de Castries và his officers under arrest. VNA/VNS tệp tin Photo |
*Trần Tiến Hoạt
HÀ NỘI — In1953, eight years after reinvading Indochina, despite having mobilised huge economic và military resources, the French colonialists failed to lớn achieve their purpose of destroying the revolutionary government và resistance forces toreestablishtheir rulethroughout Indochina. On the contrary, they suffered heavy losses: 390,000 troops.
Bạn đang xem: Battle Of Điện Biên Phủ Flashback
Financial difficulties & protests in France were increasing, putting the French government ina new political crisis. Taking advantage of this situation, the US imperialists stepped up their intervention in Indochina, helpingFrance to extend and expand the war in order khổng lồ serve their global anti-revolutionary strategy.
In May 1953, the French government appointed General Navarre commander of the expeditionary army in Indochina in the hope of winning a decisive military victory và an kết thúc to the war. In July 1953, General Navarre proposed a new plan in Indochina (also called the Navarre Plan).
Both the French colonialists & the American imperialists saidthe Navarre Plan was "perfect" andwould bring victorywithin 18 months.
The Navarre Planwas a large-scale strategyaimed at wiping out the greater part of forces within eighteen monthsand occupying việt nam permanently to lớn providea colony và military base forthe American & French imperialists.
The High Command of the French Expeditionary Corps concentrated its efforts onthe Hồng(Red) River Delta with 44 điện thoại battalions, & launched a fierce mopping-up operation in its rear. At the same time, they armed local localsto sow confusion in the northwest. In early 1954, Navarre dropped paratroopers intoĐiện Biên Phủ.
On the Vietnamese side, at the kết thúc of September 1953, the Politburo of the Central Committee of the buổi tiệc ngọt met to discuss a strategic policy for military activities in the winter-spring period of 1953 – 1954. The plan was to lớn attack areaswhere the enemy was weak, while at the same timepromotingguerrilla warfare.
The Vietnamese army và people cooperated closely with the militia & Laos and Cambodia khổng lồ launch attacks on the Indochina battlefield, forcing France to disperse itsforces. The enemy"s main force was splitinto five smaller forces that struggled to support each other.
In coordination with the main troops, the Vietnamese forces protectedresistance bases, cut off traffic, và attacked và destroyed more of the enemy’s bases. Navarre wasbankrupt.
On the northwest front, from November 1953, the French command in Indochina decided khổng lồ send troops to build Điện Biên Phủinto a strong military base. In General Navarre"s mind, Điện Biên Phủheld an important strategic position.
| A unit joins the battle khổng lồ gain control of the Muong Thanh Bridge. VNA/VNS tệp tin Photo |
By early March 1954, enemy troops numbering more than 16,000 had gathered in Điện Biên Phủ, including themost elite military units in Indochina. They had 49 basesdivided into threezones. Both France and the United States regarded Điện Biên đậy as an "unbreakable fort".
On the Vietnameseside, the Central các buổi party Committee and the Supreme Command were determined to launch a chiến dịch to attack Điện Biên tủ - a decisive strategy to lớn successfully over the resistance war against the French colonialists. General VõNguyên tiếp giáp was assigned khổng lồ command the campaign.
Over 55,000 soldiers were sent into battle, and 260,000 labourers và 27,400 tons of rice were put on standby. Tens of thousands of young people volunteered to lớn work with the armyto open aroad to the battlefield despite enemy shelling.
In justa short time, thousands of kilometres of roads were built orrepaired.
On March 13, Vietnamesetroops launched theiroffensive on Điện Biên Phủ, which lasted for55 daysuntil the complete destruction of the entrenched camp on May 7, 1954. It was an historic victory.
| A soldier waves a Vietnamese flag on top of General Christian de Castries"s bunker on May 7, 1954. VNA/VNS file Photo |
Historical significance
The Điện Biên che Victory of 1954 crushed the French colonialists & the United States, forcing the French government khổng lồ sign the Geneva Agreement in July 1954, recognising independence, sovereignty, unity & territorial integrity of the three Indochinese countries, ending ViệtNam’s long-lasting resistance war. At the same time, it ended the domination of French colonialism that lasted for centuries, & opened a new development step for the revolution of Việt Nam, Laos & Cambodia.
The 1954 Điện Biên lấp Victory smashed colonialism and opened a new era for the human race - the era of ending the rule of colonialism around the world.
Xem thêm: Giải Vbt Lịch Sử 8 Bài 29 - Giải Vở Bài Tập Lịch Sử 8 Bài 29
French historian Jules Roy later said that “The Điện Biên lấp defeat was one of the greatest failures of the West, heralding the collapse of colonial empires.”
This victory also had a pervasive effect, encouraging other oppressed countries to fight against imperial regimes. At the same time, it contributedto lightening the truth of Marxism-Leninism today: A weak và small nation & a people"s army, once resolved lớn stand up, to unite together & to fight for independence and peace, will have the full power to defeat all aggressive forces."
The victory at Điện Biên che was the result of many factors: creative political guidelines và military policies; patriotism andVietnamese military strength; solidarity among the three peoples on the Indochinese peninsula;the important help of China, the Soviet Union and tư vấn from international friends, including the French people. But the most important factor was alove forthe homeland, the burning desire for independence, & freedom forallVietnamese people. VNS
*Colonel trần Tiến Hoạt is the former Deputy Head of the Department of the History of the Resistance War against the US, Vietnam Military History Institute.