Celebrating the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Da Nang City Party Committee (March 28, 1930 - March 28, 2025) - Part 2: Leading the people of Da Nang to overcome all challenges, leading the whole country to great victory

Immediately after the establishment of the Quang Nam - Da Nang Provincial Party Committee, the Da Nang communists made great efforts to carry out revolutionary activities, arousing the patriotic spirit among the people. The distribution of leaflets, the hanging of red flags and demonstrations on the occasion of the International Labor Day (May 1) at prominent locations such as Nguyen Khoa Le Cinema and Da Nang Stork Station created a great resonance. These activities not only attracted the attention of the masses but also marked a strong start in the revolutionary movement in Da Nang.

From then on, dozens, then hundreds of communist party members appeared in Da Nang. They absorbed Marxism-Leninism and patriotism, especially through studying Nguyen Ai Quoc's work The Revolutionary Path.

The communists of Da Nang and Quang Nam, despite difficulties, hardships and dangers, persevered in propagating and enlightening the people about the revolution. Under the leadership of the Party, revolutionary movements developed strongly, especially in the years 1930-1931 supporting the Soviet - Nghe Tinh movement, the movement demanding people's livelihood - democracy (1936-1939), and the revolutionary climax (1939-1945), contributing significantly to the success of the August 1945 uprising.

During the 9 years of resistance war against France, Da Nang (along with Quang Nam) became an important battlefield, the first place to protect the free zone of Zone V. Here, the army and people of Da Nang made an important contribution with the entire nation to defeat the invading French colonialists.

After the heavy defeat, the French colonialists had to withdraw their troops, bringing peace to the country. However, soon after that, the invasion plot of the American imperialists had begun a long time ago, and in this context, the US ousted France, sabotaged the Geneva Agreement, and directly invaded our country.

Through the policy of "denouncing communism" to destroy communist forces, the US imperialists and the Ngo Dinh Diem government brutally suppressed and caused brutal massacres, with the aim of destroying revolutionary forces and extinguishing the will to fight for independence, freedom and national reunification of our people.

Despite facing difficulties and fierceness during the war, the Party Committee and people of Da Nang, together with the people of the South, persistently and persistently fought against the enemy, demanding "consultation" and "general elections" to unify the country, and opposing the "referendum" carried out by the Ngo Dinh Diem government.

Since Resolution 15 of the Party Central Committee showed the way, our Party Committee has gradually led the people in political struggle combined with armed struggle, taking control of the city for 76 days and nights in 1964, promoting the political struggle movement in urban areas; contributing to defeating the "Special War" strategy of the US imperialists.

Suffering a heavy defeat, in mid-1965, the US imperialists had to change their war strategy, massively sending US troops to land in Da Nang, starting a local war against our people. In that tense situation, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee and Zone V Party Committee, the Da Nang City Party Committee resolutely led the armed forces and the people to determine the spirit of determination to fight the US and win. One of the important steps was the construction of "American-killing belts" in Hoa Vang and many other localities, with creative and effective fighting methods.

On March 8, 1965, the US expeditionary force landed in Da Nang. The people of Da Nang organized a national pride week and built a belt to destroy the US in Hoa Vang, forming a siege and destroying the enemy.

American soldiers move back to base after landing in Da Nang. (Photo provided by Da Nang Museum)

Since 1969, the US imperialists have implemented the Vietnamization of the war, gradually withdrawing US troops while trying to consolidate and strengthen the puppet army and puppet government, counterattacking and fiercely attacking us. They concentrated their forces to “pacify” the countryside, while at the same time consolidating their position in the cities, which in essence meant “pacifying” the temporarily occupied areas by increasing their control, repression, and exploitation of the people of the cities.

Faced with that situation, the army and people of Da Nang steadfastly "held their ground", built and developed the revolutionary movement in the inner city and the suburbs, and coordinated with the entire South to carry out the strategic offensive in 1972, forcing them to sign the Paris Agreement and withdraw US troops and troops from dependent countries from the South.

After the Paris Agreement was signed on January 27, 1973, the Party Committee and People of Da Nang quickly grasped the new situation, took advantage of the opportunity, continued to develop revolutionary strength and created new positions and forces to proactively end the war with the whole country.

Since the end of 1974, when the revolutionary situation in the South showed favorable signs, the Party Committee and People of the city promoted the motto "two legs, three prongs of attack", stepping up the struggle both militarily and politically.

In July 1974, we launched a campaign to liberate Nong Son - Tien Phuoc, destroying the Thuong Duc district. Coordinating with the general battlefield, on the night of July 19 to the morning of July 20, 1974, we launched an attack and shelled Da Nang airport, enemy positions in An Khe ward, Hoa Cuong ward, Phuoc Tuong mountain, Hoa Cam intersection...

By the end of 1974, the battlefield situation clearly showed that we had enough conditions to organize a general offensive and uprising to liberate our homeland Quang Nam and our beloved city of Da Nang.

The Politburo Conference in October 1974 and early 1975 made a strategic determination to completely liberate the South and defeat the US imperialists' neo-colonial war through the 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising.

Implementing the Politburo's Resolution, on March 10, 1975, our army and people launched the Central Highlands campaign, and by March 24, completely liberated the Central Highlands. On March 19, Quang Tri province was liberated, and on March 26, Hue city and Thua Thien Hue province were liberated.

On March 22, before the consecutive victories on the battlefields of the Central Highlands and Tri Thien Hue, the Politburo and the Central Military Commission instructed the Regional Party Committee and Military Region V: "The enemy is capable of withdrawing from Hue and Da Nang, so it is necessary to be ready to attack Da Nang according to the proposed plan."

Ho Chi Minh Campaign Command. Photo archive

On March 23, the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Military Region V met and made the resolution: "Motivate the entire Party Committee, the entire army and the entire people in the region to strive to completely liberate Region V in the shortest time". The main battlefield was determined to be cities and towns, with the key target being Da Nang city.

On March 24, the Quang Da Special Zone Party Committee held an important meeting to implement the plan to liberate Da Nang. The Politburo and the Central Military Commission decided to establish the Quang Da Front Command with comrade Le Trong Tan as Commander and comrade Chu Huy Man as Political Commissar to command the attack to liberate Da Nang.

On the evening of March 27, comrade Vo Chi Cong, Secretary of Zone V Party Committee, worked with the Standing Committee of Quang Da Special Zone Party Committee, emphasizing: Da Nang must be liberated by two main forces: military and popular uprising, with the determination to complete the liberation of the city by April 3, 1975 at the latest.

Tanks and infantry of the 2nd Division of the Liberation Army entered the center of Da Nang city in 1975. Photo: Liberation News Agency

The forces participating in the General Offensive and Uprising to liberate Da Nang, including both central and local forces, included: Army Corps 2 with Divisions 304 and 325; Military Region V forces including Division 2 and Brigade 52; local forces including Regiment 96 and Regiment 97 of Front 4 Quang Da and military and political forces both inside and outside the city.

The Quang Da liberation campaign began at 5:00 a.m. on March 28, 1975, when our artillery opened fire on targets such as Ba Ren, Vinh Dien, Hon Bang, and at 8:00 a.m., artillery continued to control the airport and Da Nang seaport. Infantry and armored forces immediately began attacking districts, towns and the outskirts of the city. Thanks to careful preparation, the uprising committees in districts and towns in Quang Da simultaneously mobilized the people to rise up, carrying out the uprising order of the Quang Da Special Zone Committee.

On March 28, 1975, our army liberated Duy Xuyen. On the morning of March 29, Dai Loc, Hoa Vang, Dien Ban districts and Hoi An town were also liberated.

Da Nang people welcomed the Liberation Army entering the city on March 29, 1975. Photo: Da Nang Museum

In Hoa Vang, from 3:00 p.m. on March 27, the Party Cell of Hoa Phuoc Commune, Hoa Vang Zone III, organized a campaign to mobilize the masses to go to enemy posts to seek refuge, cry, and threaten enemy soldiers. The guerrillas used loudspeakers to call on the puppet army and militia to surrender and fired warning shots. The enemy panicked and withdrew from some small posts, gathering at large posts.

Taking advantage of the victory, the masses rose up to destroy the local militia, occupied the strongholds of Regiment 51, Mieu Bong and liberated the entire commune. Meanwhile, the puppet 3rd Division from Que Son went down to occupy Tu Cau bridge, using firepower to clear the way for the troops to flee to Da Nang.

The Party cell of Hoa Phuoc commune led the guerrilla force and some enemy surrendered soldiers to fight fiercely. The fighting at the gateway to Da Nang city in the last days of the Quang Da battlefield was very fierce. In Zone II, the guerrilla forces of Hoa Binh, Hoa Khuong, and Hoa Hung communes - in which Hoa Binh guerrillas were the main attackers - surrounded and forced the puppet army to surrender in the district capital.

At 2:00 p.m. on March 28, we broke into the district capital and captured the deputy district chief. Also in Hoa Vang district capital, the guerrillas of Hoa Tho commune were the main attackers, along with guerrillas from other communes, organizing a siege and attacking the enemy. At 8:00 a.m. on March 29, the local troops of Zone II and the secret guerrillas of Hoa Chau commune attacked the Red Bridge guard platoon. At the same time, our troops entered the city and, together with the people, rose up, occupying Hoa Vang district capital at 2:00 p.m. on the same day.

In the early morning of March 29, 1975, at 245 Phan Chau Trinh, the Standing Committee of the Quang Da Special Zone Party Committee issued an uprising order; the uprising committees in the city immediately mobilized the masses to attack the puppet army and called on puppet soldiers to lay down their weapons, return home, not resist and surrender to the revolution.

The first meeting between the Liberation Army and the rebel forces in Da Nang city on the afternoon of March 29, 1975. (Photo kept at the Propaganda Department of the Da Nang City Party Committee)

The city's special forces and self-defense forces deployed a plan to occupy strategic positions, especially the power plant to protect electricity and light, liberate prisons, and prevent the enemy from harming our comrades and compatriots. From 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the insurgent forces occupied important headquarters of the puppet government, such as: the headquarters of District 1, the town's military office, the Radio Station, and the City Hall.

On the afternoon of March 29, 1975, our main force, with the support of tanks and heavy artillery, crossed Trinh Minh The bridge (now Nguyen Van Troi bridge) and entered to occupy the enemy's Son Tra base. At 6:00 p.m. the same day, the lights came on throughout the city, signaling the good news of a great victory: Da Nang had been liberated! (However, the Hoang Sa archipelago had not yet been liberated and was still illegally occupied by China).

On March 30, the city's Military Management Committee and authorities at all levels were established. The city's Party Committee and people quickly stabilized their lives, built a revolutionary government, and prepared for the liberation of Saigon and the remaining southern provinces.

The flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam was raised on the Da Nang City Hall on March 29, 1975. Photo: Da Nang Museum

On May 7, 1975, at Chi Lang Stadium, the people of Da Nang City held a rally to celebrate the city's liberation. On May 15, the city was jubilant with fireworks to celebrate the liberation of the South, the country's peace and unity.

CITY PORTAL

Source: https://www.danang.gov.vn/web/guest/chinh-quyen/chi-tiet?id=63020&_c=3