General Nguyen Chi Thanh in the history of national revolution

Attending the discussion were Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Commission, Deputy Minister of National Defense - son of General Nguyen Chi Thanh; Major General Le Hien Van, Deputy Director of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army; scientists inside and outside the army; representatives of the General's family and comrades who fought and worked with the General during his lifetime and more than 100 students, graduate students, and researchers from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi and the Academy of Military Science.

The loyal revolutionary soldier

Comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh was born and raised in his hometown of Thua Thien Hue, a resilient land rich in cultural, patriotic and revolutionary traditions. Nurtured, educated and absorbing the heroic historical traditions of his homeland and country, witnessing firsthand the suffering of the people under the oppression of colonialism and feudalism, Comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh soon formed a patriotic ideology and revolutionary spirit.

In 1934, when he was just 20 years old, he joined the revolution, actively working in the Indochinese Democratic Front movement launched and led by our Party. Under his leadership, the revolutionary struggle movement of the people of Thua Thien against the oppression and exploitation of French colonialism and the feudalism of the Southern Dynasty broke out strongly. He led and aroused the indomitable revolutionary will of our people, creating the growth of the revolutionary movement in his homeland of Thua Thien-Hue, making the enemy panic. Therefore, the communist soldier Nguyen Chi Thanh became the target of the colonialists' hunt.

In July 1939, he was arrested by the enemy and imprisoned in Thua Phu prison, then exiled to Lao Bao and Buon Ma Thuot prisons. In the imperial prison, comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh always showed an indomitable and resilient spirit, maintaining the integrity of a communist. In February 1942, he successfully escaped from prison, returned to continue his revolutionary activities and was elected as the provisional Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee of Thua Thien-Hue province. Under his leadership, the revolutionary base system, Viet Minh organizations, and self-defense forces were built and strongly developed in Thua Thien-Hue. This was an extremely important preparation for the August General Uprising in 1945, although later in July 1943, comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh was arrested by the enemy and imprisoned in Buon Ma Thuot prison. It was not until the Japanese coup against the French in March 1945 that he was released.

In August 1945, representing the Party organization in Central Vietnam, comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh attended the National Conference of the Party in Tan Trao and was elected as a member of the Party Central Committee, and appointed as Secretary of the Central Vietnam Party Committee. In the early years of the resistance war against the French colonialists, comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh was assigned as Secretary of the Thua Thien Provincial Party Committee, concurrently Secretary of the Binh-Tri-Thien Sub-regional Party Committee. At that time, the war situation at this front was extremely fierce, our forces suffered serious losses, the Hue front was broken by the enemy, many agencies and party organizations in the province suffered heavy losses, some cadres and party members were pessimistic, and a part of the masses were confused and afraid. To encourage the people's spirit and strengthen the determination to fight and win of our cadres and soldiers, comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh affirmed: "Losing land does not mean losing the country. We are only afraid of losing the people's trust. Having the people's trust means having everything. Therefore, we must not run away. We must return to the people, we will definitely win!"

In 1948, comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh was assigned by the Party to the important position of Secretary of the Inter-zone Party Committee of Zone 4. In 1950, he was assigned by the Party and President Ho Chi Minh to be Deputy Secretary of the General Military Commission and Director of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army. In his new position, he devoted all his efforts, together with the General Military Commission, to lead the building of our army to be strong in politics, ideology and organization, to foster and promote the revolutionary nature of our army, to build a tradition of Party work, political work, to enhance the fighting strength of our people's armed forces; to regularly care for, nurture, educate and train an increasingly strong and disciplined army cadre.

Peace was restored in the North, and assigned by the Party to be in charge of the agricultural production front, comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh closely followed the grassroots, grasped the situation, listened to and consulted scientists, determined the direction of expanding production, breaking the "three-pole shackles", and launched emulation movements in agriculture. He left a good impression on cadres and people with his close, scientific, democratic working style, immersing himself in the people.

In 1964 - 1965, in the context of the US imperialists sending air force and navy to attack the North, sending army directly to invade the South, the Party Central Committee and the Politburo mobilized comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh to the battlefield to assume the position of Secretary of the Central Office for Southern Vietnam, directly directing the resistance war against the US, saving the country. With a close and specific style, he went to key areas to grasp the situation, research appropriate combat plans, propose military strategies, determine the ideology of resolute attack, proactive attack, continuous attack. The famous slogan: "Cling to the enemy's belt to fight" and the policy of building "American-destroying belts" demonstrated the intelligence and top-notch strategic talent of Vietnamese military art...

General Nguyen Chi Thanh - from the perspective of science and posterity

50 years ago, General Nguyen Chi Thanh suddenly passed away in the context of our whole country actively preparing for a General Offensive - General Uprising to gain decisive victory in the South, with the goal: "Fight to make the Americans leave, fight to make the puppets fall”. His passing was a great loss to the Vietnamese revolution. Because General Nguyen Chi Thanh was the highest commander in the South and the person who understood the battlefield realities of the South the most at that time, he was trusted and selected by Uncle Ho to be assigned the task. The General Offensive - General Uprising of Tet Mau Than in 1968 did not achieve its goal.Fight to make the Americans leave, fight to make the puppets fall", and we suffered many losses in terms of people and property. General Nguyen Chi Thanh passed away, but his ardent patriotism, full revolutionary enthusiasm, strong will, undying belief in the victory of the Vietnamese revolution, and bright lifestyle always had the power to deeply move and spread to all classes of people.

Prof. Dr.Pham Quang Minh, Principal of the School University of Social Sciences andHumanities opening speech

That is why, in his opening speech at the seminar, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Minh, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, affirmed: Although there have been many research works on the life and career of General Nguyen Chi Thanh by domestic and foreign researchers, research ideas about him have never lost their appeal. The more researchers study him, the more they find new points, shining bright spots in his life and revolutionary career.

Therefore, since the idea was formed, the organizing committee has received attention and participation in all stages from many individuals, units and agencies. Especially from specialized scientists inside and outside the military. With 53 presentations by more than 60 domestic scientists from the North, Central and South, from many research units such as the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Hanoi National University), Vietnam Military History Institute, Political Academy of the Ministry of National Defense, Vietnam Institute of History, Institute of Cultural Studies (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences), Institute of Historical Studies of the Communist Party of Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics), Hanoi Pedagogical University, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Ho Chi Minh City National University), Saigon University, FPT University Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Bang International University...

Colonel, Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Hong Anh, Deputy Director of the Institute of Military History read the introductory report.

According to the sharing of Colonel, Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Hong Anh, Deputy Director of the Institute of Military History in the introductory report, the topic of this scientific discussion focuses on three major issues: General Nguyen Chi Thanh's ideology of war and peace, daring to fight and determined to fight the US; General Nguyen Chi Thanh's great contributions as a theorist and leader of the Vietnamese revolution and General Nguyen Chi Thanh's style. On that basis, it clarifies: General Nguyen Chi Thanh's life of revolutionary activities and outstanding contributions to the goals and ideals of national independence and socialism of the Vietnamese revolution; to the process of building, maturing and winning the battle of the Vietnam People's Army. That is the example of a steadfast communist party member, absolutely loyal and devoted to the Party, the country, and the people; a virtuous, talented, prestigious leader of the Party and the Vietnamese revolution, a strategic advisor, an excellent commander of the army, an excellent son of Thua Thien - Hue province. At the same time, on that basis, propagandize and educate revolutionary traditions for cadres, soldiers in the armed forces, students and people, promote glorious traditions, contribute to building a strong Vietnam People's Army, strengthen national defense, build and firmly protect the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.

Colonel, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Nhien, Director of the Vietnam Military History Institute, in his speech with supporting arguments, clearly stated the view: General Nguyen Chi Thanh set a shining example of lifelong dedication to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation. He was an outstanding leader of the Party and the Vietnam People's Army, steadfast in the face of challenges, leading the army and people of Binh-Tri-Thien to build a resistance position against the French colonialists; a talented military strategist in the resistance war against the US to save the country; an outstanding leader of the Party on the front of building socialism in the North in the years 1961-1964; a General with great merit in building our Army to be comprehensively strong on the basis of political strength.

CDelegates took souvenir photos after the discussion ended.

During more than 30 years of revolutionary activities, Comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh was present in the most difficult and arduous places; sacrificed and fought his whole life for the Party's ideals; wholeheartedly served the Fatherland and the people. He demonstrated the qualities of a talented and strategic general of the Vietnam People's Army, an exemplary leader, full of determination and courage; a shining example of a communist; honest, straightforward, and friendly with compatriots, comrades, and teammates. That is the main and important content mentioned by most of the discussions.

In addition to the above content, when talking about comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh's feelings for his hometown Thua Thien-Hue and the feelings of his hometown Thua Thien-Hue for comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh, doctor Hoang Minh Canh, despite being 90 years old, still traveled from Hue just as the discussion began, said: Mr. Thanh was a high-ranking leader but very close to and loved the soldiers. When the Hue front was broken in 1945, he firmly led his comrades to stay in the Quang Dien plain, sticking with the people to build the movement. Thanks to his example and leadership, we overcame hardships and sacrifices. Colonel Bach Van, former Head of the Military Intelligence Department (B2 Front), shared that although he only worked with General Nguyen Chi Thanh for a short time, the strategic thinking of "nothing is impossible", doing things together with summarizing and drawing lessons immediately that he learned from the General helped him gain a lot of experience, go through the war, and grow up as he did later...

During the nearly 5 hours of work, the opinions were presented objectively, scientifically and frankly on the major issues selected by the organizing committee. All the opinions were printed by the organizing committee into a record and sent to the delegates attending the discussion.