Tet 1941, Cao Bang welcomed Him back to the Fatherland

On June 22, 1940, France lost its country to Nazi Germany. Upon learning of this news, in Kunming (China), leader Nguyen Ai Quoc convened a meeting of the Overseas Committee of the Indochinese Communist Party. He analyzed: “The loss of France is a very favorable opportunity for the Vietnamese revolution. We must find every way to return home immediately to seize the opportunity. Delaying at this time is a crime against the revolution.”

Uncle Ho returned home on the second day of the Lunar New Year 1941. Illustration.

In September 1940, Japanese fascists marched into Indochina to open more bases to fight the Allies. The French colonialists, who had surrendered to German fascists, bowed their heads to Japanese fascists with an agreement to cooperate and exploit our people. In October 1940, taking advantage of the weakening of France, Thailand waged war to regain their rights in Laos and Cambodia. Our people, who had suffered like “horses and buffaloes”, were now in a “double-collar” situation and were in danger of being “cannon fodder” in the French-Thai war, so they could no longer endure it. Therefore, uprisings took place throughout the country. The most typical were: Bac Son uprising (broke out in Lang Son province, from September 27 to October 28, 1940); Nam Ky uprising (broke out in 20/21 provinces and cities in Nam Ky, lasting from November 22 to December 31, 1940); The Do Luong mutiny (which broke out in Nghe An province on January 13, 1941) was "the gunshots signaling a nationwide uprising, the first step in the armed struggle of the peoples in an Indochinese country".

In early January 1941, leader Nguyen Ai Quoc went to Nam Quang village (Tinh Tay, Quang Tay, China) to organize a political training class for 43 Vietnamese revolutionary cadres and prepare for their return to the country. On January 28, 1941 (the second day of the Lunar New Year), he returned to the country to directly lead the Vietnamese revolutionary movement.

From February 8, 1941, he lived and worked at Coc Bo cave in Truong Ha commune, Ha Quang district, Cao Bang province. Here, he named Phja Tao mountain Karl Marx mountain and Khuoi Min stream Lenin stream. On a stone table, he translated the History of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of the Soviet Union as a working document for the Vietnamese revolution. These things expressed his thoughts, goals, guidelines and belief in the victory of the Vietnamese revolution following the path of Marxism-Leninism and the great Russian October Revolution.

After a period of preparation, he convened and chaired the 8th Conference of the Party Central Committee at Khuoi Nam hut (Pac Bo) from May 10 to 19, 1941. According to his policy, the Conference decided to establish the Vietnam Independence League (Viet Minh) to carry out the great national unity against foreign invaders and regain national independence. To mobilize people to join the Viet Minh, he wrote many works such as: Advising compatriots to buy the Independent Vietnam Newspaper (August 1, 1941), Ten policies of the Viet Minh (1941), Farmers (August 21, 1941), Women (September 1, 1941), Workers (October 11, 1941), Self-defense Ca Doi (February 1, 1942), The Stone (April 21, 1942), Our Country's History (February 1942)... Later, when writing about the victory of the August Revolution in 1945, French historian Philippe Devillers, in the book "History of Vietnam from 1940 to 1952" commented: "It is also the logical result of the Viet Minh in all areas of the country's life".

The work of building revolutionary armed forces was also given special importance by leader Nguyen Ai Quoc. The National Salvation Army platoons were established one after another: National Salvation Army Platoon I was established on February 14, 1941, National Salvation Army Platoon II was established on May 19, 1941, National Salvation Army Platoon III was established on February 5, 1944. In addition, at the end of 1941, leader Nguyen Ai Quoc also decided to establish Pac Bo Armed Self-Defense Team to prepare for the building of the people's armed forces and promote the development of political bases. He also organized political and military training courses, compiled documents on guerrilla warfare, Russian guerrilla experience, Chinese guerrilla experience, etc.

Uncle Ho working at the base in Cao Bang province. Photo: Document.

In particular, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army was established by Him on December 22, 1944. After its establishment, the Team won two consecutive battles in Phai Khat and Na Ngan (Cao Bang). Next, the Vietnam Liberation Army was also established on May 15, 1945, on the basis of unification from the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army, the National Salvation Army and the concentrated revolutionary armed organizations of the whole country of Vietnam. This is the force that will carry out the task of armed struggle to regain power for the people.

Upon returning to the country in 1941, leader Nguyen Ai Quoc chose Cao Bang to build a base based on an organized and developed political force. Then, implementing his directive, on June 4, 1945, the Viet Bac Liberation Zone was established, including 2 large bases in 6 provinces: Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Thai Nguyen and some areas on the outskirts of Bac Giang, Vinh Yen, Phu Tho, Yen Bai provinces. Tan Trao was chosen as the provisional capital of the Liberation Zone. With 1 million people, including many different ethnic groups, the Liberation Zone was truly the "image of the new Vietnam", together with the system of war zones throughout the country, forming the rear and springboard for the General Uprising to seize power in August 1945. During the August Revolution of 1945, the National Congress of Delegates held in Tan Trao also decided to establish the Vietnam National Liberation Committee with leader Ho Chi Minh (Nguyen Ai Quoc) as Chairman, comrade Tran Huy Lieu as Vice Chairman and members being comrades: Nguyen Luong Bang, Dang Xuan Khu, Vo Nguyen Giap, Pham Van Dong, Duong Duc Hien, Chu Van Tan, Nguyen Van Xuan, Cu Huy Can, Nguyen Dinh Thi, Le Van Hien, Nguyen Chi Thanh, Pham Ngoc Thach and Mr. Nguyen Huu Dang.

After Japan's coup against France (March 9, 1945), on March 29, 1945, leader Ho Chi Minh met with General Claire Chennault - Commander of the 14th Air Force of the United States, who was also the highest representative of the Allies in the South China region of the Republic of China to agree on cooperation against Japanese fascism in Indochina. Accordingly, the Viet Minh would strengthen its guerrilla forces and expand the scope of its operations; provide intelligence and meteorological information to the US Air Force operating on the battlefield against Japan in Northern Indochina; and rescue allied pilots in distress in Indochina. In return, the allied forces were responsible for sending military delegations to help the Viet Minh with military training, and at the same time providing weapons, radios and other equipment. This was his wise decision because it had won over the allied forces in our nation's struggle against fascism.

Therefore, with only 5,000 party members, our Party led the entire people to carry out the August Revolution of 1945, overthrowing the oppression and exploitation of the colonial, imperialist and feudal regimes. As President Ho Chi Minh pointed out: “The August Revolution succeeded because it had three indispensable conditions for any anti-imperialist revolution in a colonial country; that is the leadership of the working class, the establishment of a broad national anti-imperialist front, and armed uprising”.

Uncle Ho revisited Lenin stream (Pac Bo - Cao Bang) in 1961. Photo: Document

So, starting from the Spring of Tan Ty1941 in Pac Bo (Cao Bang) until August 1945, Uncle Ho made three major decisions after founding the Communist Party of Vietnam. They were: Founding the National United Front (Viet Minh), founding the People's Armed Forces (Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army), and founding the people's government (Vietnam National Liberation Committee).