Tanks and infantry of the 10th Division of the Liberation Army joined forces to liberate Buon Ma Thuot town (March 1975). Photo: Lam Quy/VNA
In using forces and developing attacks, we must be flexible, focused, not scattered, urgent and bold. The next direction of attack could be Hue, Da Nang and when the opportunity arises, strike hard at Saigon.
In the immediate future, the Politburo advocated consolidating the newly liberated areas to be ready to fight the enemy’s counterattacks; at the same time, expanding the offensive around Buon Ma Thuot town, completely liberating Dak Lak province; besieging and isolating Pleiku, Kon Tum quickly developed towards Cheo Reo. In the Central Highlands, attention was paid to the takeover and ethnic policies. The Politburo’s guiding spirit for the battlefields was to resolutely implement the original plan, but more urgently and boldly.
Tank and mechanized infantry units entered to liberate Buon Ma Thuot (March 1975). Photo: Anh Ton/VNA
After Buon Ma Thuot was captured by us, the enemy hastily sent the 23rd Division back to organize a counterattack to retake it. From the afternoon of March 12, 1975, they began using jet planes to attack the northeastern area of the town to clear the area, preparing to land troops to organize a counterattack.
On March 12, 1975, the General Command informed the Campaign Command that the enemy was preparing counterattack forces. The General Command emphasized that the most urgent task of the front was to concentrate forces to quickly destroy all enemy troops in Buon Ma Thuot and their reinforcements. That "will have decisive significance for the development of the Campaign".
The Command conveyed the Ministry's directives to the units, urging troops to hunt down remnants and destroy the remaining enemy bases around Buon Ma Thuot town, especially the rear area of the puppet 23rd Division (positions the enemy could use as a springboard for counterattacks).
Liberation Army enters Hoa Binh airport in Buon Ma Thuot town (March 1975). Photo: VNA
On March 12, Battalion 4 of Regiment 95B captured Nha Lao area; Regiment 24 and a tank company captured the rear base of Regiment 45 and the training center of Division 23; Regiment 174 attacked the enemy cluster at Se Re Poc bridge; Regiment 9 captured Buon Ho district, Chu Bao high point, Dat Ly hamlet, which were enemy counterattack springboards around the town, forcing the enemy to send rescue troops to unfavorable positions, which were easily destroyed by us.
The people of Buon Ma Thuot town and the army hunted down the remnants, dug anti-aircraft tunnels, and built combat fortifications. The Dak Lak Provincial Military Management Committee was established with Colonel Y Block as chairman, mobilizing and organizing the people to stabilize their lives and production, maintain order and security, and be ready to fight.
In other directions of the Central Highlands battlefield, the enemy was also attacked in rapid succession. On March 12, the 19th Regiment of the 968th Division captured two enemy positions in South Pleiku, approached Thanh Binh district, threatened Thanh An, continued to fire artillery at two armored battalions, defeated enemy counterattacks and developed down to Mang Giang Pass. The 3rd Division of Military Region 5 destroyed nine enemy posts on Highway 19 and then developed towards Vuon Xoai, continuing to cut off Highway 19.
[Source: VNA; Books: General Vo Nguyen Giap: General Headquarters in the Spring of Victory, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2000; Campaigns of decisive significance to victory in the Great Spring Victory of 1975, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2010; Events and historical figures, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2015; Ministry of National Defense - Vietnam Military History Institute: Vietnam Military History, volume 11, National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, 2019; Senior Lieutenant General Tran Van Tra: End of the 30-year war, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2024; General Van Tien Dung: Great Spring Victory, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2024].
Thu Hanh (Synthesis)
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/nhan-vat-su-kien/ngay-1231975-cung-co-vung-moi-giai-phong-san-sang-danh-dich-phan-kich-20250312061053349.htm
Comment (0)