After 3 phases with 56 days and nights of continuous and resilient fighting, at 5:30 p.m. on May 7, 1954, the "Determination to fight, determination to win" flag given by Uncle Ho to our Army flew on the roof of General De Castries' bunker, the Dien Bien Phu campaign ended in victory.
At the same time, soldiers of Regiment 209, Division 312 including Hoang Dang Vinh, Vuong Dinh Nho, Tran Van Nam, Nguyen Van Hieu led by Captain Ta Quoc Luat stormed the command bunker of the Dien Bien Phu stronghold, capturing General Christian De Castries and the entire staff of the stronghold.
1. Breaking the spearhead of the French colonial army
In the book "Why Dien Bien Phu", French historian Dr. Bernard Fall commented: "Considering the total number of troops, the French army's losses at Dien Bien Phu, although reaching over 16,200 people, including 11,721 prisoners of war, compared to 445,000 French and native troops on the entire Indochina battlefield at that time, only accounted for 3.64%".
"If compared with the 190,000 French soldiers and legionnaires present in Indochina at that time, the French army's losses at Dien Bien Phu were only 8.4%. However, the French army at Dien Bien Phu was the tip of the French spear in Indochina. And the Viet Minh broke the sharp tip of that spear," he wrote.
This is a very logical comment because everyone knows that a spear without a spearhead is no more useful than a club.
The reason historian Bernard Fall made this comment is because more than 16,000 French troops were either destroyed or captured by us at Dien Bien Phu, including all the top fighting units of the French army at that time; commanded by 1 brigadier general, 16 colonels and lieutenant colonels, 353 majors and lieutenant officers, all of whom were seasoned in battles from North Africa to Western Europe. The most notorious units of the French army were wiped out at Dien Bien Phu.
2. Geneva Agreement 1954
On March 6, 1946, in Hanoi, French High Commissioner in Indochina Jean Sainteny, on behalf of the French government, signed with President Ho Chi Minh a preliminary agreement, recognizing Vietnam as a free country. Only 9 months later, the French colonialists broke their promise and invaded Vietnam for the second time.
In his memoirs, Mr. Jean Sainteny wrote: "The patriot Ho Chi Minh extended his hand of peace to the French patriot Charles De Gaulle. But it is very regrettable that De Gaulle did not grasp that hand." And the price of the French's stubborn refusal was the lives of more than 300,000 soldiers and nearly 400,000 civilians.
Responding to New York Times reporter David Schoenbrun in an interview on September 11, 1946 during his visit to France in Paris, President Ho Chi Minh said: "It will be a war between an elephant and a tiger. If the tiger stands still, the elephant will trample it to death. But the tiger does not stand still. During the day it hides in the forest and comes out at night. It will jump on the elephant's back, tearing off large pieces of its skin, and then it will run back into the dark forest. Gradually, the elephant will bleed to death. That is how the war in Indochina will be."
And the 9-year resistance war to protect the independence and autonomy of the young Democratic Republic of Vietnam took place exactly like that.
One day after the Dien Bien Phu victory, the Geneva Conference (in Switzerland) was discussing the settlement of the consequences of the Korean War (1950-1953) and switched to discussing a peaceful solution in Indochina. This was something that half a month earlier, the French colonialists, with the protection of the United States, repeatedly refused in response to the proposals of the Soviet Union and the Chinese delegations.
At the end of April 1954, France and the United States agreed to let the delegation of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam participate in the talks, but they demanded that our delegation be placed on the same level as the puppet delegation of Bao Dai as well as the delegations of the Kingdom of Laos and the Kingdom of Cambodia, all of which were puppet governments set up by France.
After the Dien Bien Phu victory, France and the US had to make concessions to give our delegation the status of an official party but refused to exclude Bao Dai's delegates from the Geneva conference.
After our infantry regiments 803, 108 and 96 of Inter-zone 5 liberated most of the Central Highlands (except Buon Ma Thuot and Da Lat), we proposed that the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the French Republic be the two official delegations of the negotiations.
In which, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam represented the Pathet Lao Front and the Issarak Cambodian Front, while France represented the Kingdom of Laos and the Kingdom of Cambodia, without the delegation of the puppet government of Bao Dai. The US side unexpectedly agreed to the proposal of the Vietnamese delegation. The French colonialists were forced to make concessions.
In fact, the reason the US suddenly agreed to our proposal was so that later (in 1955), the US would have a legal excuse to set up the puppet government of Ngo Dinh Diem, a lackey of the US, to replace the Bao Dai government, oust the French colonialists from Indochina and deny responsibility for implementing the 1954 Geneva Agreement.
On July 20, 1954, the Geneva Armistice Agreement was signed between Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Defense Ta Quang Buu and Brigadier General Henri Delteil, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the French Expeditionary Force in Indochina, with the following main points:
Firstly, the countries attending the conference pledged to respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, and not to interfere in the internal affairs of these three countries.
Second, the warring parties implement a ceasefire and restore peace throughout Indochina.
Third, the warring parties carry out their commitments, transfer troops, transfer areas, and return prisoners of war.
Fourth, people on each side have the right to migrate to territory controlled by the other side during the time when the two sides' armies are regrouping.
Fifth, it is forbidden to bring foreign troops, military personnel, and weapons into Indochina. Foreign countries are not allowed to set up military bases in Indochina.
Sixth, establish the "International Commission for Control and Cessation of Hostilities in Indochina" consisting of the Republic of India, the People's Republic of Poland and Canada, chaired by India.
Seventh, the 17th Parallel, including the Ben Hai River, was a temporary military demarcation line that divided Vietnam into two temporary military assembly zones. The Vietnam People's Army assembled in the North; the French Union Army (including the French puppet army) assembled in the South, with political assembly on the spot and civilian assembly on a voluntary basis.
Clause a, Article 14 clearly states: "While waiting for the general election to unify Vietnam, whichever side has its army assembled in which area according to the provisions of this Agreement will be responsible for administrative management in that area."
Eighth, the Agreement recognized the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in both the North and South of the 17th parallel.
The enemy's napalm bomb storage area was destroyed by our heavy artillery in 1954 (Photo: National Archives Center 3, State Records and Archives Department).
This was reaffirmed in Clause 6 of the Final Declaration of the Geneva Conference on July 21, 1954, confirming the legality of the 1954 Geneva Agreement: "For Vietnam... the military demarcation line is only provisional and cannot in any way be considered a political or territorial boundary."
This is the first time the Party, Government, People and People's Army of Vietnam have reached an agreement with internationally determined legal value, recognizing Vietnam's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On that basis, the North had a 10-year period of peace to overcome the consequences of war, build the infrastructure of socialism, and create a solid rear for the whole country; the South continued the struggle for liberation to unify the country. Our country's position in the international arena was determined and enhanced, and was admired, loved, and supported by brothers, friends, and peace-loving humanity.
Although later, the US imperialists and their henchmen tried to sabotage the Geneva Agreement and launched a 21-year war of aggression against Vietnam, in reality, history still sided with the Vietnamese people.
Nineteen years after the 1954 Geneva Agreement, the 1973 Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam was born, further affirming the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Fatherland and creating a fundamental turning point to completely defeat the invasion intentions of the US imperialists and their lackeys, completely liberating the South, reunifying the country, and building socialism.
3. The End of Old Colonialism
President Ho Chi Minh affirmed the great significance of the Dien Bien Phu victory: "It was a great victory of our people and also a common victory of all oppressed peoples in the world." China, the Soviet Union, fraternal socialist countries and progressive humanity all expressed their admiration and honor for the Dien Bien Phu victory of the Vietnamese people.
Sao Do newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Soviet Army, wrote: "The defeat of the French army at Dien Bien Phu was not a coincidence... In fact, Dien Bien Phu meant the bankruptcy of the adventurous Navare plan that had been loudly advertised before. The liberation of Dien Bien Phu demonstrated the strength of the Vietnam People's Army and the unshakable will of the Vietnamese people to resolutely defend their freedom and independence. The lesson of Dien Bien Phu shows that all plots to solve the Indochina problem by continuing the colonial war have failed...".
The Al Gum Gyrria newspaper of the Egyptian Communist Party, published on May 8, 1954, clearly stated: "The fall of Dien Bien Phu is a stern warning to imperialism in Asia, Africa and all places where usurpers plot to humiliate or sabotage their independence... Regardless of the causes of the defeat at Dien Bien Phu, the progress of the national liberation movement in the world will continue and many more fortresses of imperialism will have to collapse."
In remote Africa, where most of the countries were colonies of England, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, etc., after the Algerian mercenaries were treated humanely by the Government and the People's Army of Vietnam and returned to their country, the Algerian people found the way to liberate themselves from the victory of the Vietnamese people in the Dien Bien Phu victory.
The Liberation newspaper of the Algerian National Liberation Front wrote: "How proud the Algerian people are to be your fighting friends... The victory at Dien Bien Phu was the opening act of our victory and from then on signaled a new historical period...".
Also after more than 8 years of protracted resistance (1954-1962), on March 18, 1962, the French colonialists were forced to sign an agreement with the Algerian National Liberation Front (FNL), thereby recognizing the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Algeria. On July 5, 1962, the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria was born.
In his memoirs, Mr. Ahmed Ben Bella, the first President of the new Algeria, wrote: "Our people welcomed the victory of Dien Bien Phu with great joy, just as if it were their own victory. The Algerian people, encouraged by the military defeat of French imperialism at Dien Bien Phu and enlightened by the experience of the victorious armed struggle of their comrades, quickly took up arms to fight to end the colonial regime that we have endured for 130 years...".
As a chain reaction, following the example of Vietnam and Algeria, from 1960 to 1975, other French colonies in Africa such as Morocco, Tunisia, Guinea, Mali, Madagascar, Cameroon, Congo (Brazavillle)... rose up one after another, forcing the French colonialists to return independence to these countries. Latin American countries considered the spirit of Dien Bien Phu as their "headlight" and "compass for action".
On the occasion of the victory on Giron beach on April 19, 1961 of the Cuban army and people defeating the US invasion, the newspaper "Granmar", the Central Agency of the Communist Party of Cuba, wrote: "Vietnam's victory became a great belief and hope in our bright future, encouraging us to fight... Dien Bien Phu and Giron are the graves of imperialism".
Haitian poet René De Pestres wrote: "The victory of Dien Bien Phu has an international historical importance and opens a new phase in the heroic struggle of the colonial peoples to liberate themselves from the yoke of British, French, Belgian and American imperialism. The spirit of Dien Bien Phu today is a beacon of light for millions of oppressed peoples throughout the world and fidelity to that glorious spirit is the only guarantee of victory in our revolutionary action against imperialist domination in Asia, Africa and America. Today, the brilliant awakening of the peoples of Latin America, with Cuba as the vanguard, is following the shining path of Dien Bien Phu".
Later, although it was too late, General De Castries in his memoirs realized the truth: "One can defeat an army but cannot defeat a nation."
Indeed! The movement to fight for national liberation, freedom and independence after the Dien Bien Phu victory in the 1960s of the 20th century uprooted the colonial and imperialist domination in nearly 40 countries, of which 32 were French colonies.
In 1960 alone, dubbed the “Year of Africa,” 19 colonies of France, Britain, Belgium, Spain, etc. rose up to gain independence. World public opinion called the movement for autonomy and self-determination of the people in Africa “The Revolting Continent,” while in Latin America it was “The Burning Continent.”
4. Dien Bien Echo
For the people of the three Indochinese countries, the Dien Bien Phu victory was the result of the spirit of solidarity in fighting against the common enemy. The revolutionary causes of the three countries have a close and inseparable relationship. Therefore, the Dien Bien Phu victory was not only the victory of the Vietnamese army and people but also the common victory of the people of the Indochinese countries. And that victory marked a new page in the history of the oppressed peoples.
The victory of Dien Bien Phu, along with other victories on the Indochina battlefield, led to the success of the Geneva Conference. Accordingly, the French colonialists were forced to recognize the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the three Indochinese countries. It can be said that the victory of Dien Bien Phu opened a new era for the three nations on the Indochina peninsula.
In modern world history, the resounding victory of Dien Bien Phu by the Vietnamese people is considered a prominent event, having a great impact and influence on the world military and political situation over the past decades.
The magnitude of the Dien Bien Phu event goes beyond a normal battle, because it crystallizes the will and intelligence of Vietnam, and is closely linked to the fate of many peoples in the world... That is an undeniable fact.
Up to now, there have been hundreds of books, tens of thousands of articles, many seminars and conferences summarizing combat experiences; many scientific works in Vietnam and abroad analyze and explain the significance of the victory, discuss the reasons for the strength that the Vietnamese army and people had to create the Dien Bien Phu Victory.
Continuing to research and clarify the historical values and epochal significance of the Dien Bien Phu Victory will continue to affirm the correctness and inevitable victory of the people's war strategy under the talented leadership of the Party and beloved President Ho Chi Minh.
This is also an opportunity to review the glorious revolutionary tradition of the nation, contributing to educating the younger generation; building confidence, determination, and raising the responsibility of cadres, soldiers and people for the task of building and defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland today.
In the world, the Dien Bien Phu torch was forged with 4,000 years of history of fighting against foreign invaders of the Vietnamese people, created by the blood, sweat and tears of tens of millions of Vietnamese people, with the help and encouragement of brothers, friends and progressive humanity around the world, will forever shine a light on the path to liberate ourselves from tyranny and oppression, to bury imperialism, to bring peace to the world soon, so that humanity can soon live in peace and develop progressively.
Content: Colonel Nguyen Minh Tam
Design: Thuy Tien
Dan Tri Newspaper
