The strategic talent of General Van Tien Dung

Under the direction of General Van Tien Dung, after only 5 days of attack, the Ho Chi Minh campaign ended in victory, and the South was completely liberated.

This year's 42nd anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification is also an occasion for our Party, State and Army to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of General Van Tien Dung (May 2, 1917) - the person who made an important contribution to the great victory of spring 1975, completely liberating the South and reunifying the country.

Holding the position of Chief of the General Staff of the Army for 25 years, including the 21-year resistance war against the US to save the country, General Van Tien Dung left indelible marks in every glorious victory on the battlefield and in the hearts of soldiers.

General Vo Nguyen Giap and General Van Tien Dung met again after the liberation of Saigon, May 5, 1975

The life of General Van Tien Dung is associated with great contributions to the Vietnamese revolution, from the resistance war against French colonialism and American imperialism to the later cause of national construction and defense.

If in the resistance war against France, General Van Tien Dung's military talent was clearly demonstrated when he held the role of commander of the 320th Division operating on the Northern battlefield, then in the resistance war against America, his mark was deeply shown when he directly commanded the campaigns that were decisive for the final victory.

Those were the Route 9 - Southern Laos Campaign (1971), the Tri - Thien Campaign (1972), and the Central Highlands Campaign (1975).

The victories of these campaigns changed the situation of the battlefield and the war, putting the enemy in an isolated and passive position. The victories of the above campaigns created an important position and strength to move towards the Spring General Offensive in 1975, as a stepping stone to liberate the South and unify the country.

Impressed by the strategy of General Van Tien Dung, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu - former Deputy Minister of National Defense who directly participated in the battles under the command of General Van Tien Dung recalled: "In the way of fighting in the Route 9 South-Laos campaign, our way of fighting was to coordinate the forces with the strength of three types of troops: main force, local force, and militia and guerrillas. But the talent to command and control the campaign was to carry out division, deep thrusts, division and encirclement. That is the art, strategy and strategy".

Especially in the historic Ho Chi Minh campaign, the strategic talent of General Van Tien Dung, along with many other generals, contributed to the complete victory, bringing our country to a new page.

On April 6, 1975, the Politburo decided to establish the Ho Chi Minh Campaign Command, with General Van Tien Dung - Chief of the General Staff as Commander.

Under his direction, after only 5 days of attack (April 26-30, 1975), the Ho Chi Minh campaign ended in victory, and the South was completely liberated.

According to the analysis of the generals, the command of 5 armies from 5 directions to attack and surround the enemy's headquarters in Saigon - Gia Dinh was a very large and large-scale attack.

The troops from the North, Tri Thien to the Central Highlands and Zone 5, departed at different times, traveled on many routes, handled different attack and opening situations, but General Van Tien Dung calculated and directed unanimity so that all troops could march to Saigon in time and coordinate well.

Lieutenant General Dong Sy Nguyen - former Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers - Commander of the Truong Son Corps was very impressed with this: "General Van Tien Dung has very correct ways of assessing and evaluating the enemy. He has achieved very close solidarity between the military and service branches. He is very determined towards the enemy, once he has made up his mind to fight wherever he wants. That is the characteristic of comrade Van Tien Dung."

Not only impressive for his military strategy on the battlefield, General Van Tien Dung also left a deep mark in the hearts of those lucky enough to work directly with him.

Colonel Le Hoa - Secretary of General Van Tien Dung said: When coming to work at any unit, the General always asked about the health of the officers and soldiers in the unit, went to check and directly examined the eating and living conditions of the soldiers.

The General always cared and wondered how to take care of the lives of officers and soldiers. During the years of the resistance war against the US to save the country, the country's economic situation was still difficult, so the General always reminded the leaders of the General Department of Logistics and units in the entire army to find every measure to work, produce, increase production, and gradually improve the material and spiritual life of the soldiers.

Colonel Le Hoa said: “In his daily life, the General lived a very simple life and cared a lot about his officers and soldiers. During the war against the US to save the country, the lives of the people and officers and soldiers were very difficult. In that situation, the General advised officers not to organize large, influential parties but to care about the lives of officers and soldiers.”

In the 1980s, in his capacity as Minister of National Defense - First Deputy Secretary, then Secretary of the Central Military Party Committee, General Van Tien Dung focused on directing the building of a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, and gradually modern army; improving combat readiness, strengthening the country's defense capabilities, defeating the multifaceted destructive war tactics of hostile forces; at the same time, helping the Cambodian people to overthrow the Khmer Rouge reactionary group, greatly contributing to consolidating and strengthening solidarity among the three Indochinese countries.

Remembering him is remembering a strategic general with a far-sighted vision who developed the Party's military line and art, suitable for each battlefield and won glorious victories. Remembering him is remembering a bright example of a communist who was loyal to the country and filial to the people./.

According to VOV