On April 20, 1954, we increased sniping and captured enemy parachutes.

The 308th and 312th Divisions were determined to finish digging trenches to divide the enemy airport ahead of schedule; at the same time, they stepped up small-scale operations, increased sniping, and seized enemy parachute supplies.

On the enemy side: Navarre sent France a report on the military situation in Indochina. According to him, our counter-offensive took place 8 months earlier than Navarre had expected.

Navarre proposed to the French Government either to cease fire before negotiations, or to negotiate without cease fire, while in the meantime preparing a new combat corps, French men, American equipment, to wage a new war with enormous means.

On our side: Division 308 and Division 312 were determined to finish digging trenches to divide the enemy airport ahead of schedule; at the same time, they stepped up small-scale operations, increased sniping, and seized enemy parachute supplies. The divisions conducted political activities, self-criticism, and in-depth criticism.

Dien Bien Phu Campaign: On April 20, 1954, we increased sniping and captured enemy parachutes.

Shock units attack Muong Thanh airport. Photo: VNA

To overcome the negative rightist phenomenon arising from the long and arduous battle, in late April 1954, the Party Committee and the campaign's political agency launched a serious and profound ideological struggle. At the conference, representatives of the Party Committees of the corps and the campaign's staff, political and logistic agencies, and the Party Committee - Campaign Command objectively assessed the enemy and our situation, clearly stated our victories and the enemy's defeats, clearly stated the gradually ripening conditions for the complete annihilation of the enemy, and proposed the requirement to thoroughly implement the motto of fighting steadily and advancing steadily, while actively seizing time to bring the campaign to complete victory before the approaching heavy rain season.

The conference severely criticized manifestations of negative rightist ideology and proposed measures to educate and promote the spirit of radical revolution and the spirit of determination to fight and win in the upcoming offensive.

A political activity was widely deployed from the Party Committee to the Party cell, from cadres to soldiers in all units and forces participating in the campaign. This political education and ideological struggle was a great success of the political work on the Dien Bien Phu front. It brought about great results in that the manifestations of erroneous ideology were overcome. All Party members, cadres and soldiers strengthened their firm belief in the final victory of the campaign, strengthened their iron determination, and successfully completed the task of destroying the entire Dien Bien Phu stronghold. The spirit of determination to fight and win of the cadres was enhanced.

Dien Bien Phu Campaign: On April 20, 1954, we increased sniping and captured enemy parachutes.

Our army attacked the position north of Muong Thanh airport, destroying an enemy company. Photo: VNA

Also in late April 1954, the campaign's political agency launched an emulation movement, mobilizing all soldiers and frontline laborers to make great efforts, determined to defeat the enemy in Dien Bien Phu, to make achievements to celebrate International Labor Day on May 1, President Ho Chi Minh's birthday on May 19, and to support our Government's diplomatic struggle in the international arena. With a strong competitive spirit, all units and forces participating in the campaign tried to move forward, actively preparing for the upcoming offensive, and trying to create all conditions to move to a general offensive.

During the preparation for a new offensive, thoroughly implementing the idea of actively attacking to create favorable conditions for a general offensive to destroy the entire stronghold, the Campaign Command proposed a number of important policies. That is, to continue to consolidate and build the siege attack position and develop closer to the enemy, improve the terrain, capture a number of important positions, tighten the siege, gradually suffocate the enemy, capture the airport to completely cut off their supplies and reinforcements, actively fight the enemy counterattack, use small forces to attack and snipe, causing the enemy's defense area to increasingly narrow, casualties to increase and the enemy soldiers' morale to increasingly collapse.

THANH VINH/qdnd.vn

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