Nghe Tinh Soviet Movement

President Ho Chi Minh with the Nghe Tinh Soviet

PV DNUM_ABZBBZCACE 19:00

The Nghe Tinh Soviet was the product of a process of spreading Marxism-Leninism, bringing the light of the Russian October Revolution to Vietnam, and the leader who led the way was Nguyen Ai Quoc.

In 1930 - 1931, under the leadership of the Party, a large revolutionary movement broke out across the country, culminating in the Nghe Tinh Soviet.

When the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement took place, although he was operating abroad, Nguyen Ai Quoc always closely followed the developments, clearly understood each struggle in each locality of Nghe An - Ha Tinh so that together with the Party Central Committee, he could promptly direct and direct as well as encourage, share and motivate the revolutionary spirit of the people.

Cao trào Xô viết Nghệ Tĩnh. Tranh vẽ
. Painting of the Nghe Tinh Soviet Movement.

Through Nguyen Ai Quoc and his articles and reports, the Communist International could closely monitor the situation of the revolutionary movement in Indochina in order to provide timely guidance. Nguyen Ai Quoc was a bridge connecting the Vietnamese revolution in general with the international revolution and the Communist International.

On September 20, 1930, Nguyen Ai Quoc wrote:“Revolutionary movement in Indochina”, in which he specifically describes:“… During the demonstration, 3,000 Nam Dan farmers surrounded the district magistrate’s office, broke into the prison and freed the prisoners. In Thanh Chuong, 20,000 people participated in the farmers’ demonstration… Farmers enthusiastically carried 200 red hammer and sickle flags, marched in neat rows to the district capital, surrounded the district magistrate’s office, and smashed the district magistrate’s private room…”.Nguyen Ai Quoc also called on revolutionary and progressive forces around the world to support the struggle movement of the Vietnamese people.:“Workers and peasants of the world! Brothers! Help the workers and peasants of Indochina, who are fighting against French imperialism!”.

Tranh vẽ Nhân dân Nam Đàn và Nhân dân Thanh Chương biểu tình năm 1930
Painting depicts the event of the people of Nam Dan and Thanh Chuong protesting in 1930.

In“Letter to the Executive Committee of the Communist International”On September 29, 1930, under the pen name Victor, Nguyen Ai Quoc wrote:“On September 11, Thanh Chuong farmers protested again. They clashed with soldiers and more than 20 farmers were killed. At 3 a.m. on September 12, more than 10,000 Hung Nguyen farmers marched to protest, destroying the houses of rich people along the way. Soldiers rushed in and killed 20 people. Farmers gathered at the district office, where they met about 800 farmers from Nam Dan. While the two groups were gathering together, several planes came and dropped bombs, killing more than 200 men and women…”.

He called for timely support and assistance from comrades and international organizations:“We urgently request that you do everything possible to help the victims of this bloody repression. Please let us know immediately what we must do and what you can do to help them through the International Red Cross Society…”.

Thư Nguyễn Ái Quốc gửi Ban Chấp hành Quốc tế Cộng sản (trái) và Quốc tế Nông dân về phong trào Xô viết Nghệ Tĩnh
Letter from Nguyen Ai Quoc to the Executive Committee of the Communist International (left) and the Peasants' International about the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement.

More than a month later, on November 5, 1930, Nguyen Ai Quoc continued to send a Letter to the International Peasants, reviewing the achievements of the farmers' protests and struggles, along with the establishment of a number of red villages:“…From August 20 to October 6, 1930, there were 39 demonstrations and rallies involving 69,350 peasants, some of which had 20,000 to 30,000 participants. Currently, in some red villages, peasant Soviets have been established…”.

He asserted that the movement continued to develop, despite being brutally suppressed by French colonialists:“The French imperialists terrorized the peasant movement with unprecedented ferocity. For example, in Nghe An, during a demonstration in Hung Nguyen district, planes dropped bombs and killed 171 peasants. In Thanh Chuong (another district in Nghe An), 103 people were shot dead at once. In Nghe An province alone, 393 people were killed in 7 demonstrations, many red villages were destroyed and burned down. Despite brutal repression, the movement continued to develop...

Soon we will hold the first Peasants' Congress. We request that you give us your opinions and necessary instructions, along with a letter of encouragement to that Congress. We request that you reply to us through the Communist International and, in our opinion, if the Peasants' International can provide urgent assistance to the victims of terrorism, that would be very good."

Sưu tập tài liệu viết về các cuộc đấu tranh năm 1930-1931 ở Nghệ Tĩnh do mật thám Anh tìm thấy khi khám xét nhà Nguyễn Ái Quốc và bản dịch (bên phải)
Collection of documents written about the 1930-1931 struggles in Nghe Tinh found by British spies when searching Nguyen Ai Quoc's house and translation.

When the movement was terrorized in many different ways, he continuously reported and sent letters requesting the Communist International, its affiliated organizations and fraternal parties to pay more attention to the Vietnamese revolution, and at the same time called for the support of progressive people around the world. He wrote the article“Revolutionary movement in Indochina”January 21, 1931, emphasized: “The urgent task of the world proletariat - especially the French proletariat - is to extend a hand of brotherly friendship and assistance to Indochina, to demonstrate their true and active solidarity; oppressed and revolutionary Indochina needs this!”.

He also affirmed:Nghe Tinh is truly worthy of the Red title!in the article"Red Nghe Tinh"Written on February 19, 1931. The article aims to encourage and motivate the people of Nghe Tinh to maintain their revolutionary spirit, continue to fight, and not be afraid of the enemy's brutal acts of terrorism and tricks of seduction.

Bài “Nghệ Tĩnh Đỏ” (The “Red” Nge-Tinh) của Nguyễn Ái Quốc.
The “Red” Nghe-Tinh by Nguyen Ai Quoc.

On the same day, February 19, 1931, Nguyen Ai Quoc personally typed and corrected the article with a pen.“White Terror in Indochina”, clearly showing the crimes and brutal repression of French colonialism:

“January has:

187 political prisoners in Thai Binh province prisons.

201 (97 Kuomintang members and 104 communist members) in Hanoi prisons.

70 (all communist party members) in Thanh Hoa.

400 (all communist party members) in Quang Nam.

900 (communist party members and farmers) in Nghe An.

Those are the numbers we know for sure. As for the other 54 provinces, we don't have any documents yet, but we know that in every province the prisons are full.

We do not have an estimate of the number of white terror victims… but in the same month, in Central Vietnam, more than 100 farmers’ houses were burned by soldiers (January 17, in Nghi Loc district), 32 farmers were killed in a demonstration (also in the same district, January 9) and 2 farmers were killed in a demonstration (in Ha Tinh, January 2).

This month, in the North and Central regions, the total number of people arrested was 350 people…”.

Bài khủng bố trắng
Article "White terror in Indochina".

In later historical periods, regardless of his position or busy with thousands of tasks, President Ho Chi Minh always paid special attention to the Nghe Tinh Soviet through the following activities: mentioning the Nghe Tinh Soviet as a proud milestone in the history of the nation, laying wreaths and respectfully bowing to offer incense in memory of the soldiers who heroically sacrificed in the demonstration on September 12, 1930; meeting and taking photos with soldiers of the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement 1930 - 1931; signing the Preface to donate to the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum; encouraging and calling on the people of Nghe An to promote the spirit of the Nghe Tinh Soviet in the cause of protecting and building the Fatherland... He wished that the people of Nghe Tinh“…need to unite closely and enthusiastically compete to build Nghe An and Ha Tinh into two exemplary provinces, worthy of being the homeland of the heroic Nghe Tinh Soviet.”

Bác hồ với Xô viết Nghệ Tĩnh
President Ho Chi Minh visited the monument of the Soviet martyrs of Nghe Tinh (June 1957); President Ho Chi Minh signed the Preface for the Soviet Museum of Nghe Tinh on February 3, 1964; On December 9, 1961, returning to his hometown for the second time, Uncle Ho took a photo with the soldiers of the 30-31 movement. Source: Documents

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