Nghe Tinh Soviet Movement

Direct conditions for the outbreak of the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement

(1) - Patriotic movement of Nghe Tinh people from the late 19th century to the early 20th century

Typical of the Van Than - Can Vuong movement against the French in the late 19th century was the Huong Khe uprising led by Phan Dinh Phung that lasted more than 10 years (1885 - 1896), operating in a large area from Thanh Hoa to Quang Binh.

In 1905, the whole country erupted in the Dong Du movement initiated by the patriot Phan Boi Chau, from Dan Nhiem village, Xuan Lieu commune, Nam Dan, Nghe An. Following Phan Boi Chau's call, many patriotic young people from Nghe Tinh went abroad to Siam (Thailand) to work. Typical examples include: Priest Dau Quang Linh - a Catholic who loved God and loved the country, Bachelor Dang Thuc Hua established "Trai Cay" - a place to train patriotic young people. In 1908, the anti-tax movement in Central Vietnam broke out, many people participating in the movement were arrested by the French colonialists...

It can be seen that the patriotic movement of the people of Nghe Tinh during this period took place continuously and strongly, but due to the lack of proper leadership, it was suppressed in a sea of ​​blood by the French colonialists. However, Nghe Tinh was still a fertile land for Marxism-Leninism to germinate quickly and develop strongly later.

Direct conditions for the outbreak of the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement

(2) - The exploitation policy of French colonialism and the birth of the Nghe Tinh working class

The French colonialists in Nghe Tinh quickly colluded with the feudal mandarins of the Southern Dynasty to implement a policy of exploiting the people of Nghe Tinh with hundreds of taxes: salt tax, market tax, ferry tax, especially the poll tax, which pushed the people into misery and poverty. The lives of landlords and farmers clearly showed a complete contrast, which was also the fundamental contradiction at that time.

Since 1900, the French colonialists built a series of factories in the Ben Thuy area such as: Vinh wood factory (1900), Diem factory (1904), Truong Thi train repair factory (1908)... women and children under 15 years old also had to work 12-17 hours a day but still did not have enough food to eat, not enough clothes to wear.

In addition to building factories, the French colonialists also tried to seize land to establish tea, coffee, and rubber plantations in Western Nghe Tinh. The above exploitation and exploitation policies of the French colonialists created a large workforce in Nghe Tinh. By 1929, there were about 5,000 workers living in Vinh - Ben Thuy and tens of thousands of workers in the plantations. This was the core force, the pioneer of the revolutionary movement later.

Direct conditions for the outbreak of the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement

(3) - The dissemination of Marxism-Leninism through the activities of leader Nguyen Ai Quoc and his excellent students

On June 5, 1911, Nguyen Tat Thanh left Nha Rong Port to find a way to save the country. In July 1920, Nguyen Ai Quoc found Lenin's thesis in the newspaper "Nhan Dao". In December 1920, Nguyen Ai Quoc attended the Congress in Tours, where he voted in favor of the Third International and participated in founding the French Communist Party.

At the end of 1924, Nguyen Ai Quoc arrived in Guangzhou, China. Here, on the basis of the Tam Tam Xa organization, in June 1925, he founded the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Association, with comrades Ho Tung Mau, Le Hong Son, Le Hong Phong, Truong Van Linh, etc. At house number 13 Van Minh Street, Guangzhou, leader Nguyen Ai Quoc opened a theory class for members of the Youth organization. His lectures were printed into the book The Revolutionary Path, which was later secretly sent back to the country to promptly spread Marxism-Leninism. Many comrades were then sent to continue their studies at the Oriental University, Soviet Union, such as Le Hong Phong, Ho Tung Mau, Phung Chi Kien, etc.

After being trained by Nguyen Ai Quoc, the comrades who returned to the country were all the most outstanding communist soldiers, the red seeds of the Vietnamese revolution. Many comrades from Nghe Tinh held important positions in the Party such as: Comrade Tran Phu from Duc Tho (Ha Tinh) - the first General Secretary of the Party in 1930-1931, Comrade Le Hong Phong from Hung Nguyen (Nghe An) General Secretary of the Party from 1935-1936, Comrade Ha Huy Tap, General Secretary of the Party from 1936-1938, Comrade Nguyen Thi Minh Khai - Secretary of the Saigon Cho Lon City Party Committee in 1937...

Through the skillful activities of leader Nguyen Ai Quoc and his excellent students, Marxism-Leninism was widely spread throughout Vietnam in general and Nghe Tinh in particular. Therefore, since 1925, many progressive movements took place in Nghe Tinh, laying the foundation for the formation of provincial party committees in the two provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh later.

Mobilizing and establishing Nghe Tinh provincial party committees

Before February 3, 1930, if there were 3 Communist organizations in the whole country: Indochinese Communist Party, Annam Communist Party, Indochinese Communist Federation, then in Nghe Tinh there were also 3 organizations: Central Region of Indochinese Communist Party, Indochinese Communist Federation and the Party Cell of the Youth Organization. In which, Indochinese Communist Party played the most active and influential role because the Manifesto of this organization proposed practical slogans: "Workers and peasants unite, the proletariat takes the lead...".

Immediately after the Communist Party of Vietnam was born, in March 1930, the Central Region Party Committee was also established with comrade Nguyen Phong Sac as secretary.

Under the light of the resolution of the Regional Party Committee, the three Nghe Tinh Provincial Party Committees were born one after another: Vinh - Ben Thuy Provincial Party Committee was born in March 1930 at the house of comrade Hoang Trong Tri in Hung Loc with comrade Le Mao as secretary.

In October 1930, Nghe An Provincial Party Committee was established at the house of comrade Nguyen Dinh Kinh in Thanh Chuong, with comrade Nguyen Tiem as secretary.

In September 1930, Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee was established at comrade Mai Kinh's house in Thach Ha - Ha Tinh with comrade Nguyen Chau as secretary.

In just a short time, the Party bases were consolidated from the provincial to the grassroots levels. By the end of 1930, Nghe Tinh had 368 Party cells with thousands of Party members. Along with the Party organization were mass organizations such as the Red Peasant Association, the Red Self-Defense Force, the Youth Union, the Women's Union, etc. These numbers carried a strong vitality, a great hope that the Party brought to the people of Nghe Tinh. Under the leadership of the Party, the people of Nghe Tinh rose up to make a revolution that shook the heavens and the earth.

Overview of the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement

Nghe Tinh is a land of talented people, with a strategic geographical position: the North borders Thanh Hoa, the South borders Quang Binh, the East borders the East Sea and the West is the majestic Truong Son mountain range. Immediately after the Communist Party of Vietnam was born, in Nghe Tinh, the Central Region Party Committee (the highest leadership body of the Party in the whole region) was also established in March 1930. Under the light of the resolution of the Central Region Party Committee, the provincial Party Committees of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces were also established and led the masses in the struggle, contributing to the strong outbreak of the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement.

The Nghe Tinh Soviet Movement began with the struggle of workers and farmers in Vinh - Ben Thuy on May 1, 1930. On August 1, 1930, a massive demonstration by farmers broke out in Can Loc. On August 30, 1930, the people of Nam Dan demonstrated, opening a period of armed struggle.

The peak of the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement was marked by the armed struggle of the people of the districts: Thanh Chuong (September 1), Can Loc, Thach Ha, Cam Xuyen on September 7 and 8; Anh Son, Nghi Loc, Ky Anh on September 8, 9 and 10. On September 12, 1930, a historic demonstration broke out in Thai Lao, Hung Nguyen. This struggle is an immortal song, praising the Soviet children who sacrificed themselves for their homeland.

After September 12, the revolutionary wave developed in Dien Chau, Yen Thanh, Quynh Luu. From the lowlands, the movement spread to the mountains. The struggle of ethnic minorities in Mon Son - Con Cuong on August 9, 1931 became a bright spot in the highlands of Nghe Tinh.

Faced with the boundless power of the revolutionary masses, the village authorities were disintegrated, and the Red Peasant Association Executive Committees took over. In essence, that was the Soviet Government. Vo Liet, Nguyet Bong (Thanh Chuong), Huu Biet (Nam Dan), Phu Viet (Thach Ha), Thinh Qua (Duc Tho)… were Red villages whose names still shine brightly in history books.

Workers and farmers demonstration in Vinh - Ben Thuy

The Nghe Tinh Soviet Movement was initiated by a demonstration of more than 1,200 workers and farmers in Vinh - Ben Thuy on May 1, 1930, in celebration of International Labor Day. Under the leadership of comrades Le Mao, Hoang Trong Tri, Nguyen Loi, Nguyen Phuc, farmers from the suburbs of Hung Nguyen and Nghi Loc districts gathered at Trung village communal house in Hung Dung, then marched into Vinh city, coordinating with workers in factories to shout slogans of increasing wages, reducing working hours, reducing taxes, and deferring taxes. Faced with the fighting spirit of the masses, the French colonialists fired on the demonstrators, killing 7 people, injuring 18 people, and arresting 98 people.

The Ben Thuy intersection lamppost is where the sacrifice of Red Guard Tran Canh Binh - the man who bravely stood up to hang the Party flag on May 1st was witnessed.

The May 1st struggle had an extremely great significance: "for the first time in the history of our country's revolution, workers, farmers and soldiers joined hands on the front line."

Artist Tran Van Lam built and sketched the statue of workers, peasants and soldiers, symbolizing the spirit of national unity under the leadership of the Party. Today, the statue of workers and peasants has been built at Ben Thuy Intersection, where the clash between us and the enemy took place on the morning of May 1, 1930.

The struggle of the people of Can Loc - Ha Tinh

From Nghe An, the movement spread to Ha Tinh. On August 1, 1930, under the direct leadership of comrades Nguyen Bat and Hoang Khoai Lac, more than 500 farmers from Can Loc and Ha Tinh gathered at Truong Gio and Hong Loc and marched to the district office to demand tax reduction and postponement, and distributed leaflets and shouted slogans in support of the Soviet Union and Russia. Before the strength of the masses, the district chief Tran Manh Dan had to go all the way to Nghen bridge to welcome the protesters. Surrounded on all sides, he was afraid and bowed his head, accepting the people's demands and promised to submit them to his superiors for resolution.

The "Revolutionary Song" by comrade Dang Chanh Ky shows the spirit and courageous struggle of the people of Nghe Tinh in the Soviet movement:

"Look Ben Thuy stood up first

Thanh Chuong stood up next.

Nam Dan, Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen

Mr. Son, Ha Tinh woke up once again"

The victory of the Can Loc people ended the period of political struggle and moved to the period of armed struggle.

The beginning of the armed struggle period was a demonstration by 3,000 Nam Dan farmers under the leadership of comrades Nguyen Sinh Dien and Dang Chanh Ky, forcing the district chief Le Khac Tuong to sign and stamp the flag containing the people's petition with the commitment that: Nam Dan district chief, from now on, must not harass the people anymore.

Demonstration, destruction of the district office in Thanh Chuong, birth of the first Soviet government in Nghe Tinh

The movement continued to develop strongly. On September 1, 1930, under the leadership of comrades Tran Huu Doanh, Nguyen Nhu Ky, and Nguyen Lam Yen, more than 20,000 Thanh Chuong people in 5 communes crossed the Lam River to surround and destroy the district office, destroy prisons, free political prisoners, and burn documents and records. District chief Phan Si Bang and his officials and soldiers abandoned their posts and fled for their lives. The French Public Opinion newspaper reported: "In the attack on the Thanh Chuong district office, the revolutionary masses organized with discipline and military rules..."

In this event, the Bich Hao militia made 14 bottle mines (broken glass pieces mixed with gunpowder, put in bamboo tubes and tied tightly, when the enemy arrived, light the fuse and throw it at the enemy, although it did not cause death but had very high damage) used to destroy enemy posts, threaten the enemy, threw 2 at Con Den post, injuring 5 soldiers.

After destroying the district office, the masses dispersed to the villages and communes to punish the cruel Vietnamese traitors. The demonstration on September 1, 1930 marked the beginning of the birth of the Nghe Tinh Soviet government.

From Nghe An, the movement spread to districts in Ha Tinh. On September 7, 8 and 9, 1930, thousands of people from Can Loc, Thach Ha and Cam Xuyen marched to the district office to submit demands.

The historic Thai Lao – Hung Nguyen demonstration – the peak of the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement

On September 12, 1930, the historic Thai Lao - Hung Nguyen demonstration broke out under the leadership of comrade Le Doan Suu - a cadre of the Provincial Party Committee. At 3 a.m., comrade Nguyen Ngoc Ngoan sounded the command drum from the communal house of Xuan Hoa village, Hung Long. 8,000 farmers from the two districts of Nam Dan and Hung Nguyen brought spears, sticks, and three-pronged pitchforks to the Hung Nguyen government office to fight. Frightened by the stormy fighting spirit of the masses, the French colonialists sent planes to bomb the demonstration twice, in the morning and afternoon, killing 217 people and injuring 125.

The enemy's Cong Luan newspaper reported: "If the planes had not dropped bombs 20 minutes earlier, the protesters would have occupied Vinh."

The blood of Soviet soldiers who sacrificed their lives on September 12 contributed to beautifying the revolutionary flag of our Party. September 12, 1930 will forever go down in our country's revolutionary history as an immortal heroic epic, and at the same time a resolute indictment denouncing the enemy's crimes.

The struggle of ethnic people in Mon Son - Con Cuong

The movement from the lowlands spread to the mountainous districts. In April 1931, at the house of comrade Vi Van Khang, the Mon Son Party Cell was established, consisting of 6 comrades with comrade Vi Van Khang as Secretary. On August 9, 1931, the Cell led 300 ethnic people to gather at the Con Chua banyan tree; fought against the landlords, confiscated rice, money, and incense to distribute to poor families.

Thus, in just over a year, the struggle movement of workers and peasants in Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces had reached its peak. The enemy government in the villages and communes disintegrated. The Red Peasant Association Executive Committees, also known as the Commune Farmers' Committees, took charge of managing the communes and villages. Although it existed for a short time, from September 1930 to April and May 1931, the Soviet government brought many benefits to the people.