(VOVworld) – General Vo Nguyen Giap, a brilliant disciple of President Ho Chi Minh, was one of the greatest generals of the 20^th century. His life was closely associated with the cause of national liberation. His talent and contributions to Vietnam’s struggle for national independence made a hero out of General Giap and left an imprint in the history of mankind.

General Vo Nguyen Giap led the 34-member Armed Propaganda Unit for National Liberation, the predecessor of the Vietnam People’s Army, from one victory to another. General Giap’s greatest successes were the Dien Bien Phu victory that shook the world in 1954 and the victory in the 1975 spring offensive that led to the liberation of southern Vietnam and ultimately to national reunification. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, General Giap contributed significantly to formulating a uniquely Vietnamese military doctrine in the Ho Chi Minh era, a form of people’s warfare against conventional modern armies. Associate Professor Nguyen Manh Ha, Director of the Institute of Vietnam Communist Party History, said: “General Giap was considered the older brother of the Vietnam People’s Army. He was a great commander and outstanding militarist who defeated the colonialists and imperialists of the world in the 20^th century. A foreign historian said Vo Nguyen Giap was among those who helped to define the modern world of Vietnam and the globe.”

During the Dien Bien Phu campaign in 1954, General Giap had the toughest decision of his life with the strategy shift from “Quick fight, quick victory” to “Solid fight, solid victory”. The glorious victory of the Vietnamese army and people demonstrated the talent and art of war of General Giap and ended Vietnam’s 9-year war of resistance against French colonialists. Major General Dung Chi, a Dien Bien Phu veteran, said: “As the head of a battalion, I really admired Genera Giap’s strategy shift. We were very surprised at his decision and began to withdraw from the battlefield. But when we scouted Hill A1 for the second time, we realized that his strategy and entrenchment were a good decision, which prevented the enemy from receiving backup and the transport of injured soldiers. At 2:30 PM on May 6^th, 1954, when a general offensive was about to begin to end the Dien Bien Phu campaign, we traveled in trenches 1.7 meters deep in safety and had a clear vision of our targets. The soldiers could do nothing but praise the General’s change of tactics.”

During the war of resistance against US imperialists, Vietnamese leaders decided to open a strategic route through the Truong Son mountain range and another on the sea to transport logistics to the southern battlefield. General Giap himself steered the drive to bring troops and artillery to the south. Colonel Hoang Minh Phuong, former assistant to General Giap, said: “It was very difficult to open a transportation route amid reinforced enemy air strikes. General Giap then decided to open the Truong Son trail through Laos to transport the machinery, which made it easier for trucks to travel without being detected by enemy aircraft.”    

The General’s command “faster, faster and bolder, bolder, making use of every minute to rush to the front to liberate the South while being determined to win the victory” during the pressing time of the resistance war against the US imperialists became a strong source of inspiration and encouragement for the Vietnamese people and army to reap the Great Victory in the Spring of 1975. Senior Lieutenant General Phan Khac Hy, former Deputy Commander of Truong Son Command, recalls: “According to the General’s orders, we had to fight the enemies along the way to clear the roads to the south. It meant that sappers and volunteer youth were mobilized to clear the roads from all possible directions to create the so-called “eight-sign map” through the forests. Thanks to that command, the soldiers were able to cooperate to protect strategic transport routes and further enter the south.”

It was the General’s humane style of leading the soldiers that made him legendary. He was always determined to defeat the enemy but tried his best to minimize the loss of life. General Giap traveled to every battlefield to encourage his soldiers. Colonel Dr. Vu Tang Bong, former deputy head of the subject of the national French resistance war at the Vietnam’s Institute of Military History, said: “The appearance of the top commander: General Vo Nguyen Giap at the battlefields greatly inspired the soldiers’ belief and passion. Historical facts recall that his presence at a rocket battlefield, with his leadership, inspired and raised the soldiers’ morale.”

General Giap considered himself just a drop in the ocean although many people called him a great national talent. He used to say that all of his achievements were attributed to the Party and President Ho Chi Minh’s instructions and for him, the greatest Generals of Vietnam were the Vietnamese people.

General Vo Nguyen Giap’s life and career was closely associated with several golden milestones in the country’s history of national defense in the 20^th century. His glorious feats of arms and great personality will live forever in the nation’s history.