Responding to the Ho Chi Minh Campaign: Ben Tre army and people rose up to liberate the province.

People enthusiastically gathered to celebrate victory day, April 30, 1975.

Applying the Special Resolution of the 15th Central Committee Conference on March 29, 1975 on the policy of completely liberating the South, directing the seizing of opportunities to carry out a general offensive and general uprising, on April 9, 1975, the Provincial Party Committee issued a directive: Urgently organize political and armed forces at a rapid pace, form a tight team, seize the opportunity to win complete victory. The directive consisted of 4 points, the basic content was to launch in form and scale among cadres, party members, armed forces, and the masses in all 3 regions, including the families of puppet soldiers and puppet authorities; step up mobilization and build up the force to attack the military, urgently build up the armed forces and uprising forces. The slogan for action at this time was: Concentrate on the front, devote all forces to attack and rise up, liberate communes, liberate districts; defeat the puppet army; overthrow the entire puppet government, and take power into the hands of the people.

After studying and thoroughly understanding the above directive, all levels and sectors promoted preparations. Regarding the provincial armed forces, consolidate 3 battalions, each with a sufficient number of 300 soldiers, and develop 3 new battalions. Chau Thanh Dong, Chau Thanh Tay and Cho Lach districts, each district has built 1 company, with a number of 100 soldiers; Thanh Phu, Binh Dai and Ba Tri districts each have 2 companies, 200 soldiers; Mo Cay Nam, Mo Cay Bac and Giong Trom districts each have 3 companies, 300 soldiers. Commune guerrillas have from 50 to 100 soldiers, hamlets have from 30 to 50 soldiers. Each district organizes militia battalions according to the general regulations to be brought to the province, which is 10 battalions, all districts must build more to serve the attack on the town. The uprising force mobilized about 50 thousand people including soldiers' families, families of the militia, workers, civil servants and the masses, organized into companies, each company of 100 people, equipped with rudimentary weapons, prepared banners, flags... to serve in the province and serve in the district.

While promoting preparations and continuously attacking the enemy, from the beginning of April 1975, the armed forces and the three-pronged forces at the base continued to surround the posts, capture the outposts, open many new areas, bring forces close to the towns, connect with the military base, and wait for the opportunity. The Campaign Command directed the provincial armed forces from Ba Tri to gather in Chau Thanh (Northeast and Northwest of the town), preparing a plan to attack the town. Battalion officers and combat officers divided themselves into studying the battlefield in different directions according to the plan. The provincial trade union sent cadres to inspect and connect with the construction of bases in agencies: the Public Works Department, the Light Factory, Ham Luong Ferry, Water Supply, Hospital, Construction Department, Treasury Department... The political army of more than 200,000 people was assigned to surround 754 posts and watchtowers, 11 sub-regions spread throughout the province, carefully, secretly, ready to rise up when the opportunity and command came.

While the enemy was in a state of confusion, we stepped up military propaganda work, disintegrating over 7,000 soldiers, establishing connections with 1,181 station chiefs and deputy chiefs, and having over 400 officers coordinate actions. News of victory from the fronts flew back, further encouraging and motivating the army and people in the province. While implementing the plan, due to a loophole, Battalion Commander 6 - Vo Cong Nghiep, on the way to cross Route 6 to march to Giong Trom, was suddenly attacked by the enemy, who took away documents and combat plans. The enemy immediately attacked the area on the outskirts of the town and sent security battalions (415, 453, 457, 401) to defend the town, blocking all entrances to the town according to our combat plan.

On April 27, 1975, the Campaign Steering Committee decided to move the point to Giong Trom, choosing Luong Quoi sub-region as a breakthrough point for the enemy to send security battalions to rescue, after that, we would attack the town according to the prepared plan. At the same time, comrade Tran Ve Quoc - Deputy Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command and a number of battalion officers were sent to research and prepare to fight the enemy at the Luong Quoi front (According to comrade Tran Ve Quoc: at this time, comrade Phan Dinh and Deputy Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command Ba Thanh were still in Chau Thanh Tay, Provincial Military Command Captain Vo Ngoc Can (Nam Suong) was busy with many tasks at the Unified Command Committee, so he assigned comrade Tran Ve Quoc - Deputy Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, to research the field, prepare the battlefield and directly command the "attack the fort, attack the reinforcements" tactic) . Our intention and determination was to destroy Luong Quoi sub-region to attract the enemy and destroy the reinforcements. In terms of leadership, to promptly deal with any sudden situations occurring on the front, the Standing Committee unanimously agreed to send comrade Nguyen Van Phien (Tu Cuong) to the battlefield, and assigned the Provincial Party Standing Committee to comrade Doan Van Duc - Standing Committee member.

On the night of April 29, 1975, we attacked and caused heavy damage to Luong Quoi sub-region, destroyed 2 posts on Highway 26 Luong Quoi - Dong Go, used commandos to attack Luong Quoi cast bridge (but could not attack because the commandos were sacrificed) and attacked Chet Say bridge (only destroyed a section).

People of Ben Tre town joyfully welcomed the Liberation Army taking over the town, 1975. Photo: Archive

On the morning of April 30, 1975, the 453rd Battalion of the puppet army from Phu Hung came down to rescue the Luong Quoi sub-region. Our 260th Battalion intercepted them on the road from Cay Gua Temple (Luong Quoi) to Luong Hoa, destroying 1 company. The victorious developments in the whole region were faster than expected, creating extremely favorable conditions for the battlefields to win.

At 10:30 a.m. (11:30 a.m. Saigon time) on April 30, 1975, President of the Saigon Government Duong Van Minh announced unconditional surrender, and our army raised the flag of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam on the puppet Presidential Palace. The Ho Chi Minh Campaign was a complete victory.

The Provincial People's Revolutionary Committee issued an appeal to all compatriots in the province: “Dear compatriots! The opportunity to completely liberate the homeland has come! The Provincial People's Revolutionary Committee of Ben Tre urgently calls on all compatriots in the province to clearly recognize the current situation and extremely favorable opportunity, unite closely, promote the heroic tradition of the leading flag of the uprising, stand up together, resolutely charge forward to attack and rebel continuously and more fiercely throughout the countryside and towns, determined to destroy the stubborn henchmen, seize all power, and completely liberate our beloved Ben Tre province.”

Responding to the call of the Provincial People's Revolutionary Committee, the armed forces combined with the insurgent forces and the military base to call for surrender in Luong Quoi sub-region, leveled 19 outposts and opened a liberated zone from Luong Quoi Casting Bridge to Binh Chanh Bridge, completely liberating Luong Quoi commune (Luong Quoi commune was liberated at 12:00 on April 30, 1975 - according to the History of the Revolutionary Struggle in Luong Quoi Commune (1930 - 2015), Department of Information and Communications of Ben Tre province, 2014); 1 hamlet of Chau Hoa commune, 1 hamlet of Binh Hoa commune.

Two Liberation Army battalions were deployed at Dong Go - Chet Say, Battalion 516 approached Phu Hung commune, Battalion 260 marched near My Thanh An commune.

In Chau Thanh, we deployed 1 battalion, 82mm mortar unit, Special Forces Company, commanded by Comrade Phan Dinh - Chief of Staff, to attack the defense system and Tan Thanh airport. Chau Thanh local army company surrounded Ham Long sub-region. Armed forces, along with guerrillas, insurgent forces surrounded the outposts on the My Thanh, An Hiep, Son Dong, My Hoa lines...

Meanwhile, the enemy tried their best to defend the provincial capital. Kien Hoa sub-region sent the puppet 453rd Battalion after clearing the Luong Quoi front to the checkpoint at Phu Hung to block our advance from the Northeast into the town (main direction). On the afternoon of April 30, 1975, Pham Chi Kim - Provincial Chief and Kien Hoa Sub-region Chief ordered a standstill, organized defenses ready for combat and ordered artillery to fire into the Huu Dinh area to block our advance. On the afternoon of April 30, 1975, in coordination with the armed forces, the uprising masses launched an attack on almost all enemy posts, forcing the withdrawal and surrender of nearly 300 posts, 2/3 of the sub-region and important bases: Ba Tri police station, Truc Binh key area, sub-region and Vinh Thanh headquarters... Military cadres at all levels connected and grasped the enemy's connections to restrain and urge the enemy to surrender.

In the town, at midnight on April 30, 1975, the Special Forces and our armed security forces controlled the commune chiefs, disbanded the people's self-defense forces, and together with the insurgent forces, forced the withdrawal and surrender of many outposts in the suburbs, leveling the left bank of the town. The Women's Union linked up with the inner-city base, carrying banners and flags, preparing for the takeover day.

On the night of April 30, 1975, officers, soldiers, and puppet officials in the town abandoned their posts one after another, and communication between the sub-region and the sub-regions was cut off. The cadres, soldiers, and revolutionary masses detained by the enemy spontaneously broke out of their cells and returned. In a panic, Provincial Governor Pham Chi Kim stubbornly ordered a life-or-death defense and fired artillery toward Phu Hung, but at the last minute, he and a number of trusted officers escaped at 3 a.m. on May 1, 1975, leaving the remaining officers in a state of anxiety and confusion. Major Bui Tan Buu - Chief of Staff of Kien Hoa Sub-region ordered martial law, and at the same time, organized a meeting of the Command Committee, deciding to assign officers Hien and Chan to hand over the sub-region to the revolution.

On the night of April 30, early morning of May 1, 1975, the 269A Special Forces Company of comrade Pham Minh Thao, the special forces of comrade Mai Van Anh (Nam Hai) raided the enemy's artillery position at Tan Thanh airport. The town's special forces forced the surrender of My Hoa post, the armed forces of the town's Youth Committee, and Phu Khuong guerrillas surrounded and forced the surrender of Tu Dien, Phu Khuong, Vuon Uong and Cau Ba Mu posts. The revolutionary flag was hung at the intersection of Thap and the Provincial Governor's Palace (The flag hung at the intersection of Thap was hung by Ms. Nguyen Thi Diep (Tu Diep) and some women in the inner city, while the flag hung at the Provincial Governor's Palace has not been verified by who hung it).

At exactly 7:00 a.m. on May 1, 1975, Captain Chuong drove to Tuan Dau intersection to welcome the revolutionary troops to the sub-region. On board the car were Captain Chuong, comrade Nguyen Van Hieu (Sau Nguyen) and two cadres, Bay Thanh and Hai Thang. Comrade Phan Dinh - Chief of Staff and a number of cadres entered the Administrative Building and ordered the opposing side to send ten vehicles to Chet Say bridge to welcome the Campaign Steering Committee to take over the town (at 9:00 a.m. on May 1, 1975).

Faced with the fierce attacks of the army and people in the province, the sub-regions, military bases, and outposts surrendered one by one, handing over to the revolutionary forces in each place. According to the plan, each unit took over the administrative and military agencies in the inner city. The 1975 Spring uprising on the Ben Tre battlefield won complete victory. Thousands of people from the five-way intersection, from the Thap intersection down, from the Ca Loc bridge up, from the north of Ham Luong, Ben Tre bridge poured in, holding flags and flowers, standing on both sides of the road to welcome the revolutionary troops to take over the town.

Ben Tre town was completely liberated. Everywhere on the streets, in offices, on wharves, on boats, the red flag of victory was flying. All activities of life returned to normal. Electricity, water, and ferries were maintained by workers, operating immediately to serve the people. In all districts in the province such as Mo Cay, Ba Tri, Giong Trom, Binh Dai, Cho Lach, Chau Thanh, strong attacks and uprisings took place.

The most intense days were April 30 and May 1, 1975, seizing the opportunity, the puppet Central Government surrendered unconditionally, the morale of enemy officers and soldiers declined, some villains hid, some hesitated and retreated due to the impact of our victory; everywhere, party committees mobilized tens of thousands of people, both military and civilian, to strongly attack and occupy enemy offices and posts, destroy the militia, disband civil defense, collect weapons, and hang revolutionary flags.

During this time, in the localities, there were no major battles of the armed forces but they skillfully used three prongs of attack, especially the soldiers' families storming the posts to persuade their husbands, children and brothers to return, forcing them to surrender and occupy the posts, and dismantle the posts. The heroic uprising spirit of the masses during the uprising days recurred. In just two days, April 30 and May 1, 1975, most of the towns and large rural areas had themselves wiped out the enemy and liberated their homeland. As for Bung Cat post (Tan Binh commune - Mo Cay Bac), the enemy was still stubborn until 12 noon on May 1, 1975, we fired 3 mortars, killed the Deputy post (the post chief and 1 soldier who was absent), the remaining people in the post surrendered. Ben Tre was proud that with the common victory, it had completed its historic mission, wiped out the enemy, liberated the province 361, liberated the province, liberated the district, liberated the commune.

It can be affirmed that never before has the people's strength, the proactive, intelligent and creative nature of the masses been mobilized, organized and promoted by the Ben Tre Party Committee on such a large scale, with such an urgent pace and with such strong effectiveness as in the stormy days of the General Offensive and Uprising in the Spring of 1975.

The army and people of Ben Tre completely smashed the massive war machine of the puppet government that the enemy had painstakingly built for more than 20 years; destroyed and disintegrated the entire puppet army force of civil defense, police, militia and security, over thirty thousand men; destroyed, destroyed, forced the surrender and withdrawal of over 700 posts and sub-regions; occupied all bases, warehouses, airports and headquarters of the puppet army and government at all levels; and seized all weapons and means of war of the enemy.

In this strategic battle, the army and people of Ben Tre won a quick, complete and thorough victory, ending 21 years of fierce and arduous fighting, contributing to the whole country entering a new era.

PV

(Synthesis of the source of History of Ben Tre Provincial Party Committee 1930 - 2015)

Source: https://baodongkhoi.vn/huong-ung-chie-n-dich-ho-chi-minh-quan-va-dan-be-n-tre-noi-day-dong-loat-giai-phong-tinh-18042025-a145381.html