Dien Bien Phu, April 7, 1954, the enemy mobilized additional reinforcements.

On our side: The Campaign Command set out new tasks: Destroy a part of the new enemy forces; capture a number of additional strongholds; strengthen and continue digging offensive positions, encircle and penetrate the central area to cut off enemy supplies and reinforcements, and prepare all favorable conditions to switch to the attack.

French paratroopers reinforced the forces building the Dien Bien Phu stronghold in December 1953. Photo: Archive

In the second round review conference, the Dien Bien Phu Front Command assessed the second round's victory, praised the progress, and criticized the mistakes in the last battle.

Under the direction of the Party Committee and the Campaign Command, the units organized a political activity right on the battlefield, revolving around the theme: "Fighting against rightism and negativity". At this time, it started to rain, many rains lasted for several days. All the trenches and communication trenches were flooded, many "frog jaws" dug deep into the trench walls were eroded by the rain, especially the positions of the 308th Division, stationed in the West next to the airport, right on the Muong Thanh field.

After the rain, there were days of intense sunshine, the air was hot and stuffy. The weather in April in Dien Bien Phu, as the locals said, went through four seasons in a day: Spring began at around 9am, the fog cleared, the birds sang, but from 11am to 3pm it was very hot summer, even if you could lie down for a nap, you couldn’t sleep well, from 4pm to 9pm the weather was a little cooler, it was called autumn but from 12pm to 5am it was cold again, there were freezing nights. The health of the soldiers declined very quickly. According to statistics from the Military Medical Department, in addition to 10 wounded soldiers, there were also 40 sick soldiers.

Dien Bien Phu, April 7, 1954, the enemy mobilized additional reinforcements.

General Vo Nguyen Giap and the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army study the operational plan for the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Photo courtesy of VNA

Thanks to the political activities, the sense of responsibility of the cadres was enhanced, the spirit of solidarity between cadres and soldiers became even more attached. From the agency to the unit, soldiers all joined hands to find ways to overcome difficulties and hardships, determined to fight the enemy until total victory. In addition to the People's Army Newspaper published right at the front, the corps also had newspapers, and the regiments had bulletins printed on lithographs. Newspapers at all levels sent from the rear or published right at the battlefield also contributed effectively to the implementation of political work and ideological leadership of the troops. Each letter from home sent to the front line became a common joy that was spread and read in groups of three, and many "love letters" were also kindly published in newspapers by the recipients for their comrades to "enjoy".

From the rear, besides the strong labor force that continuously carried rice and ammunition to the battlefield, there were also postal soldiers who carefully preserved each letter to deliver to the units. At that time, letters sent to the soldiers did not need to be stamped. The writer only needed to write on the envelope the three initials "TBS" meaning soldier's letter and it was considered a guaranteed letter to be delivered to the soldiers. Scientists, intellectuals, and artists also went to the front in increasing numbers. Talented doctors such as Ton That Tung, Vu Dinh Tung, Vu Van Can... were all present. The entire Medical University was temporarily closed for a period of time so that both teachers and students could go to serve the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, promptly treating wounded soldiers right at the front and contributing many initiatives and efforts in disease prevention and hygiene, protecting the health of soldiers and laborers on the front line. Later, many French commentators had to comment that, during the campaign that lasted several months, "the Viet Minh troops did not have a single epidemic, which is truly an admirable miracle."

* Coordinate with Dien Bien Phu battlefield:

- In the Northern Delta, we attacked the Thuong To position near Ha Nam, destroying 230 enemies from Battalion 3, Foreign Legion Regiment 5 (3/5 REI).

- At Inter-zone 4, we attacked Son Tung's position and killed 90 enemies.

THANH VINH/qdnd.vn

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