Nghe An with the final battle to unify the country

New situation, new mission

After heavy defeats on both the Southern and Northern battlefields, on January 27, 1973, the US imperialists and the Saigon government were forced to sign the Paris Agreement with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam to end the Vietnam War.

However, when the ink was barely dry on the Agreement, the United States and the Saigon government deliberately violated the Agreement. Although the United States withdrew all regular troops, it still maintained military advisors, large-scale weapons and financial aid for the Saigon government. The United States still hoped that "Vietnamization of the war" would help Saigon stand firm. The Saigon government still did not recognize the Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam, did not fulfill its commitment to national reconciliation, and even intensified military operations to encroach and expand its territorial control.

Right on Nghe An land, the US and the Saigon government also deliberately violated the law by many different forms and tricks such as intelligence investigation, sabotage of national defense and economy, disturbing public order and security... The US shelled the coast of Nghe An 14 times, on the night of October 29, 1973 alone, shelling 16 communes in Dien Chau and Nghi Loc districts; used commando ships to threaten and provoke fishing boats of fishermen, captured fishermen to exploit intelligence, even detained them for a few days and then released them to cause confusion and suspicion, and division among cadres and people.

In the first 8 months of 1973, the US used RF71 aircraft and unmanned reconnaissance aircraft 33 times in the sky of Nghe An. In addition, the enemy also colluded with bandits in Laos to send spies and commandos into villages to rob and lure people to migrate to Laos. Espionage and commando activities were not only in the border areas but they also went deep into the interior, especially the Catholic areas, under the guise of religion to lure and incite sabotage...

Faced with the developments of the situation, with experience in revolutionary struggle for decades, right after the Paris Agreement was signed, the Politburo commented: "The Paris Agreement is only an initial victory, not the final victory; the revolution in the South continues, and the task of liberating the South is still central."

To concretize this viewpoint, on February 20, 1973, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 225/NQ, determining the continuation of the revolutionary task in the immediate period for the whole country and each region. For the North, it is necessary to maximize favorable conditions to accelerate the construction of the material foundation of socialism, strengthen economic and defense potential, improve people's lives, and fulfill the task of the revolutionary base of the whole country. For the South, it is necessary to continue the revolutionary struggle, forcing the enemy to implement the Paris Agreement, maintain peace, achieve independence, true freedom and national harmony.

At the 21st Central Conference (July 1973), the Party determined: We must resolutely move forward to achieve final victory by the path of violent revolution. We must not have illusions about the path of peace or compromise with the Saigon government. We must prepare in every way so that when the opportunity comes, we can launch a general offensive to liberate the South.

Then, at the end of 1973, the 22nd Central Conference continued to identify the central task of the North in the years 1973-1975 as healing the wounds of war, restoring the economy, developing production and increasing support for the South; strengthening and reorganizing forces, establishing main force corps, preparing for the possibility of a general offensive when the opportunity comes.

Overcoming the consequences of war

Implementing the Central's direction, Nghe An Provincial Party Committee determined the task in the years 1973-1975 to quickly overcome the consequences of war and natural disasters, restore and develop the economy, culture..., stabilize people's lives, promote all potential and strength to support the South and fulfill international obligations to Laos.

Immediately after the Paris Agreement was signed, Nghe An focused on mine clearance, leveling bomb craters, repairing old roads, building new roads, repairing bridges, connecting ferries, underground works, clearing warehouses, cargo terminals, and wharves. Tens of thousands of mines and bombs were cleared and removed. By June 1973, all roads and waterways in the province had basically been cleared of mines and bombs, roads were leveled, and 248 bridges with a total length of 4,094m were repaired. Ben Thuy - a road traffic chokepoint to the South was installed with a pontoon bridge... Water and land transport vehicles were repaired and supplemented to restore production and life and were ready to serve in support of the battlefield.

The economic recovery and development in Nghe An was urgently promoted. Irrigation works were quickly restored, and a number of large projects were invested in and built. By 1975, the whole province had completed 517 large and small projects, excavating and filling 2,900,000 m3 of soil and rock, ensuring irrigation for 36,000 hectares of cultivated land. The movement of reclamation and restoration to expand the area was launched. The organization and management of agricultural cooperatives were improved in the direction of expanding the scale and specialized production. Economic zones were established. Quynh Luu was chosen as one of the five districts in the North to pilot the construction of a model district level by the Central Government.

Nghe An's food production increased significantly, reaching 372,018 tons in 1973, 396,514 tons in 1974, and 341,459 tons in 1975. The amount of food contributed to the State also increased significantly. If the whole year of 1971 contributed to the State 43,703 tons, then in the 1973 Winter-Spring crop alone it was 41,376 tons. Industrial crops also increased in both area and output. In 1973, the whole province planted 1,475 hectares of peanuts, in 1975 it was 7,653 hectares, providing the State with 6,200 tons of shelled peanuts. Forestry and fisheries were both restored and developed. In 1973, 7,000 tons of fish were caught, but by 1975 it was 14,000 tons.

Industry has been gradually restored. Ben Thuy Power Plant has been restored; diesel power stations have been consolidated and enhanced. Factories, mechanical and construction material production plants have been restored or newly built. Financial and commercial activities have had positive changes, serving production and life well...

Culture and education quickly overcame difficulties and stabilized under peaceful conditions. Attention was paid to the work of war invalids, martyrs and the army's rear. Since 1973, 10,034 war invalids and sick soldiers and nearly 8,000 officers and soldiers returning from the battlefield have been cared for; many have returned to the battlefield after recovering their health. National defense and security were maintained. The spy and commando activities of the Vang Pao bandits and the Chinese in the border areas were discovered, prevented and suppressed. Social order and security were ensured. Embezzlement and theft of public property were prevented and pushed back a step.

All out for the battlefield

Thoroughly grasping the strategic viewpoint on the development of the whole country's revolution of the Politburo in the new context after the Paris Agreement, especially the task of firmly protecting the rear and supporting the Southern battlefield, on April 18, 1973, Nghe An Provincial Party Committee issued a Resolution on local military work. In addition to the task of raising vigilance and promoting local military work, the Resolution clearly defined the task of excellently completing the task of supporting the Southern battlefield, completing the international mission with Laos, exceeding the target of recruiting soldiers, recruiting youth volunteers, mobilizing frontline laborers, bringing troops, weapons, food and provisions to the battlefields.

Regarding military recruitment, in 1973, Nghe An assigned 11,073 new soldiers, reaching 109% of the target. Notably, the number of Catholic youth and ethnic minority youth enlisting in the localities all met and exceeded the target. Quynh Luu district alone had 1,278 new soldiers enlisting, exceeding 107.4%. Duc Thanh and Thinh Thanh communes (Yen Thanh) reached 245 - 250% of the target... Also in 1973, Nghe An sent 4 artillery battalions, 1 engineer battalion, and 6 infantry battalions to the battlefield.

In 1974, thanks to proactive planning and promoting the patriotism of the people, especially the youth, by October 1974, Nghe An had recruited more than 8,000 new soldiers, exceeding the target by 7%. Quynh Luu district had 1,278 new soldiers, Nam Dan district had 962 new soldiers. In addition to the assigned troops, Nghe An also organized and arranged 1 infantry regiment, 3 artillery battalions, 2 anti-aircraft battalions, and 1 engineer battalion. At this time, Nghe An had 13,000 soldiers on standby for battlefield A, 20,000 soldiers on standby for battlefield B, ready to support the battlefields in the South and Laos.

In late 1974 and early 1975, the war situation on the battlefield changed rapidly, the opportunity to liberate the South became clearer, the Central and the General Command decided to establish main force corps to support the battlefield. The recruitment of troops was urgent and in large numbers. The General Command and Military Region IV assigned Nghe An to recruit troops for 2 years (1975-1976) in one batch in early 1975 with large numbers and urgently. Nghe An Provincial Party Committee determined that this was an important task as a general mobilization campaign for human resources for the front line, so it focused on directing decisively, urgently, thoughtfully and closely.

As a result, by March 15, 1975, the entire province had completed the task of transferring troops in one batch for the target of both years (1975 and 1976), reaching 104% of the assigned target, of which, 8 districts achieved from 108 - 128%, led by Vinh city, Quynh Luu, Thanh Chuong, Dien Chau districts. Also in February 1975, Nghe An sent the 316th Division and then the 341st Division to the Southern battlefield. After transferring and sending troops to the battlefield, Nghe An quickly built 3 infantry regiments (e 1, 2, 6), 1 anti-aircraft artillery regiment (e281) ready as reserves for the battlefield. In April 1975, e6 was sent to the battlefield; adding 400 officers and soldiers to Regiment 89 to Quang Tri, Thua Thien to carry out mine clearance tasks. Thousands of civil and political cadres, scientists, technicians, teachers, medical staff and more than 1,000 police officers and soldiers were urgently mobilized to the South to take over the liberated areas. 400 students of Vinh Pedagogical University were sent to the South immediately after graduation. After completing the military transfer, in April 1975, Nghe An continued to establish 4 more infantry battalions, 15 anti-aircraft artillery companies, re-arrange defense areas, and firmly consolidate the rear defense position.

To urgently support the battlefield, Nghe An province established a Steering Committee for serving the battlefield. Almost all means of transport were mobilized to transport troops and goods to the battlefield. As of April 1975, 1,000,000 tons of goods from the Central Government through Nghe An were handed over to Group 559. In the first 6 months of 1975, goods delivered to Tri Thien reached 150%, and to the South reached 169%. Nghe An farmers actively contributed food and provisions to transfer to the battlefield. In early 1975, Nghe An contributed 24,000 tons of food, 300 tons of food (including 18,000 tons of food temporarily lent to the State) to support the battlefield.

Fulfilling international obligations

To help the Lao revolution, at the same time protect the Northern rear, and share the fire with the Southern battlefield, in 1972 and early 1973, Nghe An armed forces participated in opening the 772 front to expand and protect the liberated areas of Laos before the Vientiane Agreement on ending the war in Laos was signed. During the 2 months before the Agreement was signed, Nghe An armed forces on the Lao battlefield fought 25 large and small battles, destroyed and captured 350 enemies, completely liberated Muong Moc district and expanded the Tha Si and Bao Man areas, connecting the liberated areas of Xieng Khouang and Bolikhamxay provinces.

After the Vientiane Agreement was signed (February 21, 1973), Nghe An armed forces continued to stay in Laos to help their friends fight to prevent the enemy from violating the Agreement and maintain the liberated areas. In 1973, Battalion 43 coordinated with the friendly country to organize 28 raids to hunt down bandits, killing 266 bandits and clearing the area. In addition, Battalion 40 was tasked with protecting the target and more than 1,000 frontline laborers transported weapons, ammunition, and goods to meet the needs of our troops and the friendly country. Since 1974, Battalion 43 Nghe An and Battalion 48 Ha Tinh merged to form Regiment 176 under Military Region IV, voluntarily operating in Laos. In 1974, Battalion 43 of Regiment 176 (Division 968) continued to stand in the neighboring country, helping the neighboring country defeat enemy attacks, maintain the liberated zone, and contribute to creating the premise for the Lao revolution to achieve complete victory on August 23, 1975.

With its particularly important strategic position, during the resistance war against the US to save the country, Nghe An was the strategic rear base of the Southern battlefield and of the Lao revolution. During the 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising, Nghe An devoted all its human and material resources to the Southern battlefield. In the final battle to unify the country, there was a lot of blood and bones of Nghe An people. That contribution demonstrated the deep patriotism, the steadfast revolutionary tradition and the great responsibility to the front line of Nghe people.