At Dien Bien Phu, 70 years ago, the People's Army Newspaper (QĐND) published and distributed 33 special issues right on the battlefield, becoming the most effective information channel, a spearhead in the campaign, encouraging the fighting spirit of the army and people in Dien Bien Phu and the whole country. The spirit of journalism at the Dien Bien Phu front has become a unique cultural feature of the Vietnamese revolutionary press, contributing to the historic victory that "shocked the world". At the scientific conference on the Dien Bien Phu Victory, historical value and epochal stature held in Hanoi recently, Major General Doan Xuan Bo, Editor-in-Chief of the QĐND Newspaper, said that on the information and propaganda front at that time, we had great success and victory, a single newspaper was written, printed and distributed right at the Dien Bien Phu front.

A page of 33 issues of the People's Army Newspaper published at the Dien Bien Phu front. Photo: People's Army Newspaper - Memorial stele of the Frontline Editorial Office and the People's Army Newspaper Printing House at the Dien Bien Phu Front (Muong Phang Commune, Dien Bien Phu City). Photo: VOV

At that time, the core force of the editorial office consisted of only five people: Hoang Xuan Tuy - commander, Tran Cu - editorial secretary, Pham Phu Bang, Nguyen Khac Tiep - reporters, Nguyen Bich - newspaper layout artist. Major General Doan Xuan Bo shared: "In a short time, under difficult circumstances, 5 comrades have produced 33 very special issues of the newspaper. 10 years ago, the newspaper organized an international conference, and delegates from France, Germany, Russia and Austria affirmed that 'this is an unprecedented press product in the history of world journalism, very valuable'. Lieutenant Colonel Me Quang Thang, Deputy Head of the Party and Political Affairs Department of the People's Army Newspaper, said that the editorial office and printing house were located right on the slope of Pu Ma Hong hill in Muong Phang, one field away from the bunker of Commander-in-Chief Vo Nguyen Giap and Political Commissar of the Dien Bien Phu front. Lieutenant Colonel Thang analyzed that the forward-looking nature of the editorial office is reflected in the very special location of the headquarters. That is, from Pu Ma Hong, all official information from the Campaign Command was promptly received and transmitted to the units and frontline laborers. On December 28, 1953, the People's Army Newspaper published issue 116 - the first issue at the front during the period when the units prepared the battlefield, built artillery roads, and brought artillery into the battlefield in time for the attack on Dien Bien Phu on January 26, 1954, following the motto "fight quickly, resolve quickly". At noon on January 26, 1954, when the units were ready, there was an order to postpone the attack and prepare for the battle again following the motto "fight firmly, advance firmly". On February 1, 1954, the Spring Giap Ngo 1954 issue was published, and for the first time at the front, soldiers and laborers read New Year's greetings poems with President Ho Chi Minh's signature. On March 10, 1954, three days before the opening fire, the front office of the People's Army Newspaper published a special issue: Issue 130 published on the front page the appeal of General Vo Nguyen Giap, with the title "Resolutely destroy all French troops at Dien Bien Phu".

Officers and soldiers read the People's Army Newspaper to get information from the battlefield during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Photo: Document/People's Army Newspaper

Right after we captured Him Lam, on March 14, 1954, issue 131 reported the resounding victory with the headline “Our army has annihilated all enemy troops in Him Lam”. On May 11, 1954, issue 147 ran a large headline on the front page of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army announcing: “Our army has won the Dien Bien Phu battle”. On May 16, 1954, the front office published issue 148 with assessments of the victory, congratulatory telegrams, and an article reporting the surrender of thousands of French soldiers on the Dien Bien Phu battlefield. This was a special issue and also the last issue in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Lieutenant Colonel Me Quang Thang said that during 140 days and nights, from December 28, 1953 to May 16, 1954, the frontline editorial office of the People's Army Newspaper printed and published 33 issues. The content of the news and articles recorded heroic historical moments, reflecting the most realistic and vivid information about the developments of the war, daily life, the brave fighting examples of soldiers, tunnel digging experiences, logistics organization, investigative reports on the health of soldiers, the problems of soldiers' rear in land reform; the problem of solving ideology after each battle, President Ho Chi Minh's letters of encouragement to soldiers, instructions from superiors... Each article was soaked with sweat, tears, and blood of those holding guns on the Dien Bien Phu battlefield. Many reporters and collaborators defied the dangers on the battlefield, were present at hot spots, and exploited the best and most unique details. The People's Army Newspaper was born right at the front, carrying the breath of the battlefield, and became an invaluable spiritual food for our soldiers even in the most difficult, deprived and arduous fighting conditions. Journalists in the Dien Bien Phu campaign were both reporters and combat soldiers, even taking on the role of propaganda envoys of the Campaign Command. From here, many reporters were challenged, matured in both political and professional qualities, and became core cadres in building cultural agencies in the Army. Lieutenant Colonel Me Quang Thang affirmed that the People's Army Newspaper published at the front had become a "special weapon", demonstrating the humanity and military art of the Vietnam People's Army, contributing worthily to the Dien Bien Phu victory; leaving a creative mark, contributing to enriching the history of Vietnam's revolutionary press.

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/vu-khi-dac-biet-giua-mat-tran-dien-bien-phu-2272061.html