The power of people’s war in early days of National Resistance

PANO – The people’s war is the precious and traditional art of Vietnam’s warfare. In the early days of the National Resistance, though lasting for a not very long period of time, the people’s war saw an important development in the organization and deployment of forces and combat equipment. The art to closely coordinate forces, organize battlefields, and conduct combat fronts and, especially, the use of force and combat equipment were the factors that made up tremendous synergy that helped defeat the enemy.

Photo for illustration: Archived photo of VNA

Facing the overwhelming troop strength and modern means of warfare of the French colonialists, in response to the Call for National Resistance of President Ho Chi Minh, the army and people of Vietnam heroically fought back the enemy to protect the Fatherland. All Vietnamese people, both at home and overseas, regardless of genders, age, religions, political inclination and social classes, stood up to expel the French invaders. During the combat against the enemy, the whole people were guided and trained by mass organizations to help them get well aware of the tasks, the enemy, and the role of each front, especially combat methods. That was the knowledge necessary for people to creatively apply to fighting the enemy in different fronts. Apart from the organization and building of forces, the whole people were also instructed to build a resistance war disposition in all regions and areas nationwide; every citizen became a soldier; every village, commune, ward, factory and office became a fortress to fight back the enemy. The Vietnamese people fought the invaders with every weapon available, such as guns, swords, spears, hoes and spades and sticks. The high spirit, will and determination, and power of the entire people to fight the enemy were manifested in the calling: “We would rather sacrifice everything than losing our country; we never consent to being slaves.”

During the fight, the army and people of Vietnam closely coordinated forces in northern, central and southern battlefields as well as strategic mountainous regions, highland, midland, plain and urban areas and in military, political, and diplomatic fronts. In combat, the army and people nationwide combined guerrilla warfare tactics with tactics conducted by regular forces to take the initiative over the enemy. The enemy was attacked across all battlefields with more power concentrated on main battlefields in urban areas. During combat, the Vietnamese army and people creatively applied offensive and defensive methods. Our forces also made full use of combat tactics, such as enclosure, combination of attacks from both inside and outside the enemy's strongholds, blocking, wearing out and destroying the enemy, and more. Also during combat, our army and people nationwide built forces to develop and implement more vigorous combat methods. That was an important factor to make up the strength to defeat the enemy in different fronts, especially in the military front, marking the maturity and great strength of the people’s war, an important development in the art of comprehensive combat against the enemy during early days of the National Resistance.

Fully tapping the power of the whole people’s war and creatively applying the art of combat, our army and people throughout the country stopped and repelled enemy’s attacks as well as slowed down the advance of the French troops. Our forces got the strong hold of many cities and towns, firmly protecting the people’s government system for many days and nights, shown especially in the uneven combat between the army and people of the capital with the French troops. In Hanoi, the French colonialists maintained the troop strength of 6,500 troops with a lot of modern warfare equipment like aircraft, tanks and artillery guns. The enemy troops occupied many important places inside and at the gateways to the city as well. Meanwhile, our regular forces in the capital only consisted of five battalions. Despite that fact, the people and army of the capital still bravely stood up, shouldering one another, standing side by side to fight back the enemy. Local people strongly supported the army by overturning locomotives and wagons, cutting down large trees and felling electricity poles, using precious belongings of their families such as tables, chairs, beds, cupboards, etc. to create a system of obstacles to prevent the French troops. The people of the capital also broke walls to make ways through houses in many streets to help troops secretly maneuver to hit the flanks and the rear of the French troops. The capital’s residents also voluntarily participated in and served combat alongside our army troops both day and night. The whole capital was fighting with the high will and spirit of “To live and to die for the capital and the nation.” Our army and people also creatively employed combat methods during the 60 days and nights in the capital. That was the very important and necessary factor that created favorable conditions for the Central Party Committee and the Government to retreat successfully to the safety zone to continue leading the resistance to the final victory.

Translated by Huu Duong