Winter War 1946 - Immortal epic

According to Mr. Hoang Trung Hai, the opening gunshots of the long-term resistance war, holding back the enemy to protect the revolutionary government of the army and people of the capital, demonstrated the bravery, intelligence, character, and soul of the people of Thang Long - Hanoi: sacrificing everything for national independence.

On the morning of December 18, the ceremony to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the National Resistance Day (December 19, 1946 - December 19, 2016) took place in Hanoi. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, along with leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front, revolutionary veterans, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, and Heroes of the People's Armed Forces attended the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai reviewed the historical context of the winter of 1946. At that time, the Vietnamese revolutionary government faced numerous difficulties, simultaneously having to deal with famine, illiteracy,... facing a "life-threatening" situation when having to deal with internal and external enemies.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai. Photo: Thuy Linh.

After the opening shots in the capital on the night of December 19, 1946, President Ho Chi Minh's call for national resistance resounded, and the whole country entered a long-term resistance war against French colonialism.

The heroic battle that held the enemy back for 60 days and nights once again clearly demonstrated "the spirit of our ancestors and the sacred spirit of the mountains and rivers; demonstrated the bravery, intelligence, character and soul of the people of Thang Long - Hanoi: elegant - gallant - peace-loving but also indomitable - indomitable, ready to sacrifice and dedicate everything for the independence and freedom of the nation", said Mr. Hai.

According to Mr. Hai, this spirit and mettle has entered the history of the Vietnamese people as an "immortal epic, illuminating the renovation and integration work today".

Colonel Nguyen Huy Du, former soldier of the Capital Regiment. Photo: Thuy Linh.

Representing the veterans attending the ceremony, Colonel Nguyen Huy Du (former soldier of the Capital Regiment) recalled the context before the August Revolution, his family lived an extremely difficult life, his father was a poor civil servant, his mother was a small trader, his siblings were all illiterate, he was lucky to be adopted by his uncle. Joining the revolution, participating in the seizure of power in Bac Bo Phu, Mr. Du was indignant at the crimes of the French colonialists so he dropped out of school to join the resistance.

Together with his teammates, Mr. Du joined the fight to protect the capital from the early days with the mission of reconnaissance, leading troops to ambush. “After 60 days of fighting the enemy in dilapidated houses, streets devastated by bombs and bullets, we crossed the Red River to withdraw from Hanoi to Viet Bac. Nine years later, we returned to take over the capital,” Mr. Du emotionally recounted.

“Throughout all those years, I will never forget the first cold days of winter 1946. We learned the lesson of solidarity, relying on the people, fighting from the inside while besieging from the outside, fighting from the inside and outside, relying on our familiar old quarters to hold the enemy back. Until now, those in the Capital Regiment are all over 90 years old, still living in the vivid memories of 60 days and nights of fighting with Hanoi,” said a soldier of the Capital Regiment.

Associate Professor Dr. Tran Xuan Bach, representative of the young generation, spoke at the ceremony. Photo: Thuy Linh.

Representing the young generation, Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Xuan Bach (lecturer at Hanoi Medical University) said that for the young generation, December 19, 1946 only exists in films, history pages, and stories, but it is vivid and sacred.

“The legend of the 60 days and nights of that year has gone down in the history of the country as an immortal epic. We, the young generation, are proud and grateful to our ancestors for calmly entering the war with the steadfast oath of being determined to die for the country. Many young men and women of Hanoi are very romantic, elegant but also full of courage,” Dr. Bach shared.

According to VNE