Our army liberated Quang Tri and continued to pursue the enemy.

Continuing the victory, on March 19, 1975, our main army units attacked across the Thach Han River.

Thus, the enemy's northern defense line of Military Region 1 was broken. Lieutenant General Ngo Quang Truong, Commander of Military Region 1, called on soldiers to "defend Hue to the death", and swore on Hue Radio: "The Viet Cong must step over my dead body to enter the ancient capital of Hue".

President Nguyen Van Thieu declared on Saigon Radio: "Abandon Kon Tum and Pleiku to preserve forces, but Da Nang, Hue, Military Region 3, and Military Region 4 must be held to the end."

The puppet paratrooper brigade retreating from Da Nang to Saigon was also ordered to stop and reinforce their blocking line at Khanh Duong - Phuong Hoang Pass on Highway 21.

On the same day, on our side, the Quyết Thắng Corps marched to the South of Military Region 4 to join the campaign in time. The Tri-Thien Military Region was reinforced by the 46th Infantry Regiment.

In the Southeast, Bien Hoa airport was attacked by our army and suffered heavy damage.

Faced with favorable developments on the battlefield, the Military Region Command held a meeting to study the situation and propose a plan to liberate Thua Thien-Hue.

On the battlefield in the Southern Central Highlands, the 320th Division continued to pursue the enemy on Route 7 and organized an attack to completely destroy the enemy cluster in Cheo Reo town.

At the same time, Regiment 9 captured Phu Thien district and coordinated with our forces in Cheo Reo to completely destroy the fleeing enemy. The enemy suffered heavy losses on the way of retreat and almost disintegrated.

After escaping through the Cheo Reo area, the 6th Special Forces Regiment, the 19th Armored Division, the Artillery Battalion and a part of the enemy's engineers retreated to Tuy Hoa but were blocked by the 9th Battalion of the Phu Yen army, which destroyed the bridge. The enemy had to stop at Cung Son and together with the local forces here, including a security battalion, commandos, and militia of Son Hoa district, organized a defense and found a way to repair the bridge and road to retreat.

On our side, after liberating Cheo Reo, Division 320 continued to pursue the enemy. Regiment 64 and an armored company led the formation.

Meanwhile, in England, Robert Thompson - Major General advising Johnson and Nixon on guerrilla warfare - predicted: I am convinced that all of South Vietnam will collapse.

[Source: VNA; Historical Moments: Ho Chi Minh Campaign 1975, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2005; Campaigns that were decisive for victory in the Great Spring Victory of 1975, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2010; Historical Events and Figures, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2015; Historical Decisions, 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; General Van Tien Dung: Great Spring Victory, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2024; From the Battle of Phai Khat, Na Ngan to the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2024].

VNA

Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/chinh-tri/ngay-19-3-1975-quan-ta-giai-phong-quang-tri-tiep-tuc-truy-kich-dich-151585.html