The first place to seize power in the Soviet homeland

(Baonghean.vn)- Nam Thanh Commune, Nam Dan District is always proud to be the first locality to seize power in President Ho Chi Minh's hometown.

While the whole country was celebrating the August Revolution, we had the opportunity to visit Mr. Bui Danh Chau (93 years old, residing in Hamlet 5, Nam Thanh Commune, Nam Dan), a cadre of the Thanh Thuy (Nam Thanh) pre-uprising in 1945. When we arrived, he was preparing an offering on the altar to light incense sticks for his comrades and the people who had fallen for the independence and freedom of his homeland. He said, "Every year, on this day, I prepare several trays of incense."

Mr. Bui Danh Chau recalls the historic moment of participating in the seizure of power 70 years ago.

At this rare age, but every time he mentions the historic moment when the whole village was full of enthusiasm to seize power these days 70 years ago, his eyes light up. Since the age of 23, he and a group of young people in the village joined the Phan Anh youth organization (the Vanguard Youth Group - also known as Phan Anh Youth, Social Youth).

He said: “At that time, I did not know that Phan Anh Youth Organization was an organization of Viet Minh, but the organization guided local patriotic youth to participate in revolutionary activities. It was not until later, when independence was achieved, that I learned about Phan Anh Youth…”. In December 1944, the organization was secretly organized by comrade Tran Van Quang (former Political Commissar of Military Region 4) to meet with a number of patriotic intellectual youth to propagate the war situation as well as revolutionary activities. Understanding that “Japan is the number 1 enemy of Indochina”, clearly grasping the ideals of the Revolution’s activities…

A corner of Nam Thanh commune today.

At that time, Mr. Bui Danh Chau was in charge of the youth force of the Thanh Thuy Uprising Committee. “On August 14, the locality received a telegram from the Central Committee with the content of “preparing to seize power if conditions permit”. The Viet Minh Executive Committee met secretly at Vien Quang Pagoda to assess the situation as well as prepare for the seizure of power. With the system of state lieutenants, village chiefs, and local tyrants at that time in a very confused state, the French soldiers in red and blue uniforms left their ranks and returned to their localities, ready to participate in revolutionary activities. Therefore, the opportunity to seize power was ripe”.

On August 16, all the people of Thanh Thuy stood up and marched to the headquarters of the Committee for the seizure of power, to the houses of village chiefs and powerful landlords to control and arrest them and take their property back to the people. The Nam Thanh Uprising Committee was established, with Mr. Chau as a military commissioner. Being the first locality to seize power, while other localities had not yet made any moves, the people were a bit worried that the government would be seized by reactionaries. Therefore, the uprising committee issued "martial law" and if any strangers appeared, they would immediately surround and arrest them to protect the young government. Two Japanese men carrying guns to Thanh Thuy after the people seized power were immediately discovered and the people of the commune surrounded them in the middle of a large field. The two Japanese men could not escape the hands of the people, Mr. Nam Can rushed in with his bare hands and defeated one of them, the other raised his hands and surrendered.

Thanh Thuy pioneered the movement to seize power and return it to the people. On August 17, Yen Dung and Loc Da villages (Vinh City) seized power; on August 18, the people of Quynh Luu district; on August 21, Vinh city and Dien Chau district...

On August 23, the people of Nam Dan district stood up together, waving the red flag with the yellow star, and marched to Sa Nam town to seize power in the district. On January 2, 1946, young man Bui Danh Chau was admitted to the Party and sent to attend a new Party member class. He returned to take up the position of Party Secretary of the commune; in 1946, he was assigned to the Propaganda Department of Nam Dan district; in 1947, he was Chairman of Thanh Thuy commune... In 1950, he went back to the front to fight until April 30, 1975, when the South was completely liberated, before returning to his homeland.

Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Nam Thanh Commune, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Cung said, “The younger generation is always proud of the resilience and courage of the previous generation who pioneered in seizing power for the people. Promoting that precious tradition, the Party Committee and people of Nam Thanh Commune are actively building their homeland, making efforts to build a commune that meets New Rural standards as soon as possible…”

Ngo Toan