August Revolution - a great event in the history of the Vietnamese nation

(Baonghean.vn) - The success of the August Revolution in 1945 was the first great victory of our people since the Party's leadership, opening a great turning point in the history of the Vietnamese nation. From here, the country, society, people and people of Vietnam entered a new era, the era of national independence associated with socialism.

Historical context and developments of the August Revolution in 1945

In early 1945, World War II entered its final phase. The Soviet Red Army won consecutive decisive victories on the European battlefield, liberating a series of countries and advancing straight into the Nazi German stronghold in Berlin.

On May 9, 1945, Nazi Germany surrendered unconditionally, ending the war in Europe. On August 8, 1945, the Soviet Red Army launched a stormy attack on the Japanese army. On August 14, 1945, Nazi Japan surrendered unconditionally, ending World War II.

Uncle Ho working in Pac Bo (Cao Bang) after a 30-year journey to find a way to save the country. Photo archive.

According to the agreement of the Allies, after the Japanese fascists surrendered, the British and Chiang Kai-shek armies would enter Indochina to disarm the Japanese army. Meanwhile, the French colonialists were eager to rely on the Allies to restore their dominant position; the American imperialists behind these forces were also ready to intervene in Indochina; the reactionary and stubborn elements in the Japanese puppet government were plotting to change masters and oppose the revolution.

In the country, through rehearsals, by 1945, the revolutionary movement had risen. On March 9, 1945, the Japanese fascists staged a coup to oust the French. That same night, the Central Committee's expanded meeting decided to launch a revolutionary movement as a premise for a general uprising, changing the forms of propaganda, agitation, organization and struggle appropriately.

In March 1945, the Party Central Committee issued the Directive “Japan and France are fighting each other and our actions”. In April 1945, the Central Committee convened the Northern Revolutionary Military Conference, decided on many important issues, and unified the armed forces into the Vietnam Liberation Army. On April 16, 1945, the Viet Minh General Department issued a Directive to organize National Liberation Committees at all levels and prepare to establish the Vietnam National Liberation Committee, that is, the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Vietnam.

General Vo Nguyen Giap talks with Tuyen Quang people under the Tan Trao banyan tree. Photo archive.

From April 1945 onwards, the anti-Japanese movement to save the country took place strongly, rich in content and form. In early May 1945, Uncle Ho returned from Cao Bang to Tuyen Quang, choosing Tan Trao as the base to direct the revolution of the whole country and prepare for the National Congress.

On June 4, 1945, the Viet Bac Liberated Zone was established, under the leadership of the Provisional Command Committee, becoming the base of the whole country. In August 1945, the National Party Conference held in Tan Trao (Tuyen Quang) affirmed: "A very good opportunity for us to gain independence has come" and decided to launch a nationwide uprising to seize power from the Japanese fascists and their lackeys before the Allies entered Indochina; proposed three principles to ensure the victory of the general uprising, which were: concentration, unity, and timeliness.

At 11 p.m. on August 13, 1945, the Uprising Committee issued Military Order No. 1 calling on the entire people to launch a general uprising. On August 16, 1945, the National Congress held in Tan Trao approved the "10 major policies of the Viet Minh"; approved the "General Uprising Order"; stipulated the national flag and national anthem; and established the Central National Liberation Committee, i.e. the Provisional Government, with comrade Ho Chi Minh as President.

President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter calling on the people of the whole country to launch a general uprising, stating: “The decisive hour for the destiny of our nation has come. The whole country, let's stand up and use our strength to liberate ourselves.”

On August 19, 1945, tens of thousands of Hanoi people took to the streets to protest and launch an armed uprising to seize power. Photo courtesy

Under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, the people of the whole country rose up, carried out a general uprising, and seized power. From August 14 to 18, the general uprising broke out and won victory in the rural areas of the Northern Delta, most of the Central region, part of the South and in the towns of Bac Giang, Hai Duong, Ha Tinh, Hoi An, Quang Nam...

On August 19, the uprising to seize power was victorious in Hanoi. On August 23, the uprising was victorious in Hue and in Bac Can, Hoa Binh, Hai Phong, Ha Dong, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Binh Dinh, Gia Lai, Bac Lieu...

On August 25, the uprising was victorious in Saigon - Gia Dinh, Kon Tum, Soc Trang, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Bien Hoa, Tay Ninh, Ben Tre... In Con Dao, the Con Dao prison Party Committee led imprisoned revolutionary soldiers to rise up and seize power.

Within just 15 days at the end of August 1945, the general uprising achieved complete victory, and the power throughout the country belonged to the people.

President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Photo archive.

On September 2, 1945, at the historic Ba Dinh Square (Hanoi), before a rally of nearly one million compatriots, President Ho Chi Minh, on behalf of the Provisional Government, solemnly read the Declaration of Independence, declaring to the nation and the world: The Democratic Republic of Vietnam was born (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam).

Causes and historical significance of the August Revolution

- The success of the August Revolution in 1945 was thanks to the correct, wise and skillful leadership of the Party; it was the correct, independent, autonomous and creative application and development of Marxism-Leninism in the specific conditions of our country.

- The August Revolution succeeded mainly because of the patriotism, solidarity, and indomitable will of our people, who refused to live forever as slaves of the people who lost their country; wholeheartedly followed the Party and were led by the Party through general rehearsals, determined to rise up to gain independence for the nation.

Vietnamese youth in the resistance war. Photo archive.

- The August Revolution was carried out in an international context with certain advantages. German, Italian and Japanese fascism had been defeated, and the liberation movements of oppressed peoples and progressive forces in the world were developing strongly.

- The success of the August Revolution in 1945 was the first great victory of our people since the Party's leadership, opening a great turning point in the history of the Vietnamese nation. The government was in the hands of the people, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was born - the first worker-peasant state in Southeast Asia; ending the feudal monarchy in Vietnam; ending more than 80 years of our people under the yoke of colonialism and fascism.

Images of the parade at the 70th Anniversary of August Revolution and National Day September 2, 2015.

- This is also the inevitable development process of the nation's history through thousands of years of struggle, the pinnacle of indomitable will, community cohesion, and intellectual height of the nation combined with Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh's thought, and the trend of the times for peace, democracy, and social progress, for national independence and socialism.

Celebrating the 72nd anniversary of the August Revolution's victory, the entire Party, people, army and nation of Vietnam continue to make efforts to study, research, absorb and implement the great solidarity policy and the historical lesson "The eternal norm lies in the people's hearts"; to better and more effectively implement President Ho Chi Minh's lesson of mastering the law of the people's hearts, in order to arouse the spirit of national pride and self-respect, and identify true patriotism as the great driving force in the process of successfully implementing the renovation process./.

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