Following the end of the Second World War Vietnam which was a colony divided into multiple countries came together under the independence initiative undertaken by its leader Ho chi Minh from August 15-30, 1945. Vietnam was known as French Indo China during the World War II,a valuable colony of French Empire. The completion of the Second World War open the avenues for the Vietnamese nationalists so as to start a movement against the colonial government and this opportunity was provided after France was invaded by Nazi Germany. Sensing the opportunity, Ho Chi Minh urged the population to rise in revolt and helped to organize the league of the independence of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh started this popular movement against the French and was more concerned with liberating the country against the French. Ho Chi minh who was a communist but was a nationalist wanted to create a space for the Vietnamese National movement and the interregnum between the withdrawal of the Japanese forces and the arrival of the French forces provided the VietMinh with the opportunity.
The August revolution of 1945 created possibility of division between China and Britain where the two countries wanted to divide Indochina among themselves. Ho Chi Minh along with its Vietnamese People’s army marched to control of northern parts of the country and urged all the people across the country to unite for National uprising. This revolution was fast and decisive. It further ensured that Ho chi minh formally declared independence on September 2nd, 1945 and in the process declared that Vietnam would abide by the ideologies of self-determination and freedom. This precarious situation also forced China and European countries to invade Vietnam because of which the southern half of the country was occupied by France. In order to consolidate its position, Ho Chi Minh accepted French preposition of accepting South Vietnam under their control but was apprehensive of the fact that French would not honour the commitment made by Ho Chi Minh. However, in order to reduce suffering of his people and stop bloodbath he accepted the proposal.
The Japanese during their withdrawal have handed over the reins of power to the local Vietnamese rather than giving it to Western powers. The accesses to weaponry and equipment leftover by the Japanese have empowered Vietminh forces and help in consolidating their position across the northern regions. The return of the French by September 22, 1945 led to persecution of Vietnamese forces which gave strong resistance and in order to suppress this Britishers had sent the reinforcements from India. However by October 1945, the Viet Minh swarmed the country and took control of large swathes of the liberated zones.
The setback suffered by the French emboldened the Ho Chi Minh to embark on declaring independence however in a response the French warships bombarded Haiphong and killed thousands of Vietnamese. In reaction to this the Viet Minh undertook a comprehensive attack against the French forces on December 19, 1946 and this was the starting of the first Indo China war. The war continued for eight years and in 1954, the French suffered major setbacks in Northwest Vietnam at a place known as Dien Bien Phu.
Vietnam was divided into regions, with Ho Chi minh in command of Northern Vietnam and the emperor Bao Dai who took reins of power in Southern Vietnam. The process of establishment of the Viet Minh followed with the liberation of Vietnam as well as unification of the country was the handiwork of the August revolution under the chairmanship of Ho Chi Minh. He had a vision and a commitment towards his people who stood by his wish and aspirations for the country. The modern Vietnam’s template for political, social and economic development is a manifestation of that August revolution, the seeds of which were sown in 1941.
Vietnam has been celebrating the 75th anniversary of the August revolution and this victory was a milestone in Vietnam is history which brought about an era of national independence embellished with socialism. The August revolution also was a precursor for commitment of the population and the Viet Minh in reconstruction of the country and building defence over the period of last 75 years. The mobilization across the country and the galvanization of Vietnamese soldiers and the people to restore national dignity and pride was germinated because of Ho Chi Minh’s experience of interacting with people and he gained experience travelling across different countries and borders. The important part of this national resurgence was that it just took two weeks to attain a comprehensive victory along with very few casualties.
General Nguyen Quyet , who was the general secretary of the party committee had expressed that the world witness the August revolution which paved the way for the fate of Vietnam. He expressed that it was landmark for Vietnam and the world which are fighting against colonialism and imperialist countries.
In fact the August revolution laid the foundation stone for the Dien Bien Phu victory, and createdsynergy between Ho Chi Minh and aspirations of the people who contributed actively in this revolution. The mobilization of the people, and the faith that they have reposed in Ho Chi Minh showed the calibre and the commitment of the leader towards its people. The August revolution was the precursor to the party’s revolutionary leadership which have been inspired by Marxism-Leninism, and the lessons which were learnt during the August revolution under the leadership of Ho chi minh. The planning and coordination among the Vietnam’s revolutionary forces helped in sustaining long wars with French and the US. It helped in working out comprehensive guidelines related to properly mobilization of forces along with structured logistical support through the people and thereafter leading the people to take control of the administration and take over all those institutions which have been left by the French during their withdrawal from the country.
The victory in Hanoi during the August revolution created a domino effect and also created a confidence among the people that the imperialist powers are not invincible. The period between March 1945 in Indo-China and the August revolution in Vietnam also showed that the Japanese have emerged as a potent power in the Asian theatre and the French were getting uprooted from the major Asian arena. Ho Chi Minh would be remembered for decades to come for his leadership qualities and his commitment to liberation of Vietnam.
